§ 64. Mr. Burdenasked the President of the Board of Trade how long the red coupons in the clothing ration book are intended to last?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)In view of the increasing stringency of supplies, and the need, in the interest of our war effort, to achieve the maximum economy in labour, material, and shipping space, it will be necessary for the red coupons in the clothing ration book to last until the end of August. The clothing ration for the next rationing period, which will begin on 1st September, cannot yet be decided, since it must be governed by the future supply situation. But it will certainly not exceed the rate for the present period, namely, 48 coupons a year, and it may have to be less. I trust that everyone will continue to practise the utmost possible economy in expenditure on clothing. All the coupons in the present ration book, green and brown as well as red, will continue to be valid after 1st September next, at least until the end of 1943, and probably longer. Their validity will not, in any event, be terminated without at least four weeks' notice.