§ 90. Lieut. Colonel Sir Cuthbert Headlamasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the inadequate apportionment of utility furniture in Northumberland and Durham; and what steps he is taking to speed up delivery of such goods in the Northern area.
§ 92. Mr. Murrayasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of utility furniture in Northumberland and Durham; that deliveries are from four to nine months in arrears and, in some cases, orders are returned or the wholesalers must wait 12 months; and if he will endeavour to speed up supplies for these districts and bring them into line with the Midlands and the South which have delivery in 14 days.
§ 95. Mr. Laversasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the supply position as far as utility furniture in the North-East is concerned; and what steps he proposes to take to see that the people of the North-East get a fairer apportionment in the near future.
§ 103. Mr. Robensasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the insufficiency of designated furniture factories for the making of utility furniture in the North-East; that out of 40 recent appointments not one supplier is for Northumberland; that three of the few manufacturers who served this area have notified the trade that they are so inundated with orders that they ask distributors to send orders elsewhere; and whether he will give more designations to manufacturers in the North-East.
§ Sir S. CrippsI would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland (Mr. Willey) on Friday last.
§ Mr. Evelyn WalkdenWill my right hon. and learned Friend, in addition to the statement to which he has referred, make a more general statement now affecting every area, and telling housewives and returning Service men what particular items of furniture may be available, because it is of the utmost importance that people should know this, and the position varies in different parts of the country?
§ Sir S. CrippsI am afraid I have not got that information available at the moment.
§ Sir C. HeadlamCan the Minister justify the immense difference in the time which it takes to deliver goods in the North of England and the time it takes in the South and the Midlands? In the North it takes 14 months, whereas it is 14 days elsewhere.
§ Sir S. CrippsThat arises because of difficulties of getting equal distribution owing to the location of the factories. As I stated in my previous answer, steps are being taken to remedy that.