HC Deb 22 July 1946 vol 425 cc1656-7
22. Mr. Osborne

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reduce by two the coupon value of boots and shoes now that supply has practically caught up with demand.

31. Lady Noel-Buxton

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement about a reduction in the number of coupons required for footwear.

Sir S. Cripps

Supplies of leather are still short and I am, therefore, introducing a range of lower pointings for footwear which will particularly affect those types which require least leather. For instance, men's shoes with rubber composition soles will be reduced from nine coupons to seven and women's shoes similarly from seven to five. I am also helping agricultural and industrial workers by downpointing utility heavy working boots from nine coupons to six and safety boots and rubber boots from six to four. An Order will be published on Thursday next bringing these changes into effect as from Monday, 29th July. The complete list of changes is somewhat detailed, and I am ensuring that full information is available to traders through the Press and trade associations.

Mr. Osborne

May I thank the right hon. and learned Gentleman for that answer, and ask him not to be weary in well-doing but to reduce the coupon value still more?

Mr. Janner

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider very particularly downpointing the cheap shoes, of which there is such a plentiful supply in Leicester and similar places?

Sir S. Cripps

Those are the type of shoes which do not use large quantities of leather.