§ 26. Major Ramsayasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the waste at present being caused at R.N. demobilisation centres by the removal by burning of bed mattresses, retainable by personnel being demobilised and which, not being required by such personnel, are left behind by them at the centre.
Mr. AlexanderNo, Sir. This happens only in those cases in which the mattresses are handed in such a condition as to render their immediate destruction absolutely necessary.
§ Major RamsayWill the First Lord consider whether in the case of such mattresses as are in a bad state of repair some of them could not be made better use of by the upholstery trade?
Mr. AlexanderI do not think that the hon. and gallant Gentleman can be aware of the circumstances. I looked at one selection at one depot, where hundreds of mattresses had been returned, out of which a dozen or so were destroyed because they were verminous. I do not think that upholstery people would want those.