§ 51. Lord Willoughby de Eresbyasked the President of the Board of Trade 29 whether he will increase the supply of leather to manufacturers of surgical boots and shoes.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Belcher)The Board of Trade is always ready to give special assistance to any surgical boot makers whose output is limited by lack of materials; and if the noble Lord will let me have details of any particular cases, they shall be looked into immediately.
§ 52. Lord Willoughby de Eresbyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that there is a delay between the time when a customer orders a pair of surgical boots and the time when they are delivered, he will make arrangements to see that clothing coupons do not have to be handed over until delivery has taken place.
§ Mr. BelcherThere is no obligation under the Consumer Rationing Order to hand over coupons for any rationed goods until they are supplied. As a matter of private contract, the supplier may require coupons to be deposited as a condition of accepting the order, since he will himself have to lay out coupons to carry it out. I see no reason for interfering with such arrangements.