HC Deb 01 February 1944 vol 396 cc1131-2
62. Mr. Storey

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made by his Department to regulate the sale of alarm clocks.

Mr. Dalton

As the number of alarm clocks imported from North America is very limited, I have arranged for them to be sold only against buying permits, available to those workers who have regularly to get up between midnight and 5 a.m. These permits are issued through the trade unions, and through certain Government Departments. The clocks, on importation, are distributed, through the horological trade pool, to wholesalers for supply to retailers against permits surrendered to them by their customers.

Mr. Storey

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Sunderland there are more alarm clocks than permits; and does he not think that it would be as well for him to get one, so as to wake himself from his dream of regulating both the waking and sleeping hours of the public?

Mr. Dalton

I hope my hon. Friend has one himself. I will draw his observations to the attention of those concerned.