§ 6. Mr. Evelyn Walkdenasked the President of the Board of Trade how the computation of a person's needs is assessed 10 in cases where clothing ration books are declared lost or when an application for a duplicate supply of clothing coupons is being considered?
§ Mr. DaltonLost coupons are replaced only where exceptional need for clothing is proved or where the loss is due to causes outside the owner's control. In the former case, coupons are issued to bring up the applicant's stock of clothing to a minimum essential level. In the latter case, replacement depends upon the un-expired part of the rationing period.
§ Mr. WalkdenWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that explanation, may I ask whether that includes inspection of an applicant's wardrobe? Is it not a strange policy, in contrast to that of the Ministry of Food, which does not even check up reserve stocks in a pantry, that his Department should check up on wardrobes?
§ Mr. DaltonWe have to be very careful with the limited supplies available. My answers continually return to the same point. There is only a limited supply of clothing material available, and we must be careful to see that where coupons are lost—although we are most anxious to meet all the reasonable needs of-those concerned—we do not over-issue. The ration, which is based on the minimum essential needs, is quite generous; it is more than four times the ordinary basic ration.