§ 3. Mr. Jewsonasked the President of the Board of Trade why he will not grant to members of the Girls' Training Corps the same concessions in regard to coupons as are made to members of the youth detachments of the British Red Cross Society?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)Members of the Girls' Training Corps are in the same position as members of the Junior Red Cross, who receive no coupon concessions for their uniforms.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the valuable work being done by the Girls' Training Corps and that this particular type of girl find if most difficult to provide themselves with uniform, and will he look into the matter again?
§ Mr. DaltonI have looked into it from that point of view, and I have answered Questions on the subject before, and I have also been in contact with hon. Members of this House on the matter. The position is very simple. There are certain organisations, of which the Girls' Training Corps is one, which are not sponsored by any of the Service Departments. Other examples are the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides. I fully recognise the valuable work they are doing, but the civilian ration is insufficient for any further concession to be made now, and I must continue to decline to make an exception, much as I value the work of these organisations.
§ Mr. NicholsonIs not that reply equivalent to saying that the proper method of approach by the Girls' Training Corps is to one of the Service Departments in order to get recognition?
§ Mr. DaltonI have not said that. I am trustee for the civil population, and I am making as fair a distribution as I can to carry out that obligation. The Service Departments have their own proper organisation for the purpose.