§ 14. Lieut.-Commander Hutchisonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in Edinburgh in regard to the inadequate supplies and poor quality of leather and rubber available for repairing children's footwear; and whether he is now in a position to make any statement on this subject.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)The best leather must be reserved for the Services, but I am glad to say that both the quality and quantity of material for civilian repairs have recently improved. I have called for a special report on supplies of repair material in Edinburgh.
§ Lieut.-Commander HutchisonWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his answer, may I ask him to bear in mind that in respect of this I was informed by two shoe repairers in my constituency only yesterday that supplies are still hopelessly inadequate and of bad quality?
§ Mr. DaltonWhen this question was placed upon the Paper, I called for an immediate interim report to be obtained from my Edinburgh officers, and this showed that, with one exception, leather merchants in Edinburgh say they have been able to get their quotas without difficulty, and the quality of the leather being received is good. I am, however, looking into the matter further.
§ Lieut.-Commander HutchisonI was referring to repairers.