HC Deb 17 December 1945 vol 417 cc904-5
23. Colonel Stoddart-Scott

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that instructions have been issued to chrome leather tanners to withhold 20 percent, of their output of chrome tanned upper leather from the shoe manufacturers from 1st December, 1945, to 28th February, 1946, because this quantity is required for U.N.R.R.A.; why this is done when the home market is so short of supplies of leather and shoe manufacturers are unable to supply the people with sufficient, shoes to maintain health; and what steps does he propose to take to enable shoe manufacturers to maintain necessary supplies of shoes for the home market.

Sir S. Cripps

At the request of U.N.R.R.A., we have taken over certain hides belonging to them for tanning here, and we are consequently providing a corresponding quantity of leather for the liberated territories. This will, in total, be only 6percent, of the full chrome upper leather output of all kinds for civilian use. This arrangement will not diminish the supplies of upper leather available for the home market.