31. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of clothing coupons issued to traders in respect of goods lost in transit for the six months ended 31st March, 1944; and, having regard to the fact that such losses must seriously imperil the clothes rationing scheme, what steps the Government propose to take to minimise the volume of the theft of consumer rationing goods.
§ Mr. DaltonThe number is about two and three quarter million. Though this number is regrettably large, it represents less than a quarter of I per cent. of the total quantity of rationed goods supplied to the home market in this period. The various authorities concerned are doing their best to minimise such thefts.
Mr. De la BèreIs not my right hon. Friend aware that, although it may be a small percentage, it is really a very large number, running into millions? Does he not think that something should be done by his Department, other than the few words which he has given us to-day?
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir. My Department will give all the assistance they can to the Departments primarily concerned—my noble Friend the Minister of War Transport, my hight hon. and gallant Friend the Postmaster-General, and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, who is responsible for the police. It is a matter of the railways, Post Office and the police taking action.
§ Mr. Vernon BartlettHas the Minister worked out the number of suits of clothes which he or I could buy with two and three quarter million coupons?