§ 34. Sir Irving Alberyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps are now being taken to improve the distribution of safety razor blades; and whether he is aware that there is now an acute shortage in the supply available to the general public?
§ Mr. DaltonDespite the shortage of labour and steel strip, the number of razor blades available for the general public is little less than before the war. Every effort is made to distribute supplies as fairly as possible throughout the country, but if my hon. Friend has evidence of a serious shortage in any particular district, I shall be glad to look into it.
§ Sir I. AlberyWill the right hon. Gentleman go into any chemist shop or barber's at random in London, and in five places out of six he will be told that none are available? When he says that the same number are being made as before the war, is he counting the safety razors supplied to the Armed Forces?
§ Mr. A. BevanDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise how unfair the shortage of razor blades is to us poor brunettes as compared with blondes?
§ Mr. DaltonI am anxious to be fair all round. The total production of safety razor blades is greater in spite of the difficulties I have indicated, but a considerable part of it goes to the Services. The civilian population, excluding what goes to the Services, have very nearly as many as before the war. If there are defects in distribution, I shall be glad to look into them on evidence from particular areas.