HC Deb 14 March 1944 vol 398 cc22-3
36. Mr. Granville

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is his intention to remove the control on the design of furniture at the cessation of hostilities.

Mr. Dalton

The demand for furniture after the war will be very heavy and the supply of material very limited. It will be necessary, therefore, to ensure that the best use is made of what is available. I have received a valuable report from the Furniture Industry Post-War Reconstruction Committee, who recognise the need for the continuance of control over production during the transition period after the war.

Mr. Granville

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that a great deal of the designing of ordinary-price furniture is done by craftsmen-woodworkers themselves, and does not require a great designing staff? Therefore, will be consider the decontrol of design before the decontrol of production?

Mr. Dalton

I think I had better await the further report which is coming from the Furniture Industry Post-War Reconstruction Committee, on which both employers and employees are represented. Not all design before the war was worthy of British craftsmanship.

Sir Frank Sanderson

Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider it essential that control should continue until production overtakes consumption?

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir, that is certainly my view.

37. Mr. John Dugdale

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the wife of a serving soldier cannot be given sufficient coupons to enable her to set up house for her husband on his return from abroad if she happens to have been married before 1st January 1941.

Mr. Dalton

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to utility furniture permits. Production is only sufficient to allow permits to be granted to very limited classes of people, including the newly-married. The latter have hitherto been defined as persons married since 1st January, 1941. But I am glad to say that, as output is increasing, I am now able to include those married on or after 1st September, 1939.