§ 8. Mr. Hutchinsonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the dissatisfaction which exists among bespoke tailors concerning certain aspects of the operation of clothing control in its application to bespoke tailoring, and concerning the present methods of consultation with the clothing industry, he will arrange for the appointment of special officers in his Department to operate control in the bespoke clothing trade and for special consultation with the trade?
§ Mr. DaltonThe organisations which represent the bespoke tailoring trade are already in constant touch with my Department, and I see no reason for appointing special officers to deal solely with matters affecting the bespoke trade.
§ Mr. HutchinsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in the bespoke tailoring trade?
§ Mr. DaltonThere are two organisations, the National Federation of Merchant Tailors and a more recent break-away organisation. I have seen both, and they have seen my Director-General of Civilian Clothing on several occasions, and we do our utmost to meet their requests, but I must frankly say that some of their requests are quite unacceptable in view of the present shortage.
§ Commander Sir Archibald SouthbyTo what extent are bespoke tailors represented on the committee which deals with tailoring and clothing generally?
§ Mr. DaltonI am not sure to which committee the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers.
§ Sir A. SouthbyThe one that deals with tailoring and the wholesale manufacture of clothes.
§ Mr. DaltonThere is one that advises us on which the National Federation is represented.