§ 26. Mr. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will immediately replace the clothing coupons used by Mr. D. Sutherland of Walesby, Market Rasen, which owing to the delay of his Department had to be used to purchase clothing for Miss Sutherland, a visitor from Denmark, as correspondence sent to him indicates; and if he will see that such applications which assist the export trade are more swiftly dealt with by his Department.
§ Mr. H. WilsonNo, Sir. Miss Sutherland was not entitled to an issue of clothing coupons on her recent visit to this country, and I cannot therefore reimburse her father for any coupons expended on her behalf. I much regret the delay which occurred in dealing with this application.
§ Mr. OsborneSurely since Miss Sutherland is now resident in Denmark, she is entitled to reimbursement of the coupons supplied by her father? While I sympathise with the right hon. Gentleman in 1392 the amount of correspondence with which he has to deal, may I ask him if he cannot hurry things up in his Department, so that we can get replies more quickly?
§ Mr. WilsonI would like to go into the case of Miss Sutherland in mare detail, but it is not a fact that a British citizen temporarily resident in a foreign country should be entitled to coupons for visits to this country.
§ Mr. OsborneBut she is working there.
§ 32. Mrs. Jean Mannasked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to down-point men's suits, at present requiring 26 clothing coupons.
§ Mr. H. WilsonI hope to announce before the House rises any pointing changes, whether up or down, which may be decided upon for the next clothes rationing period commencing 1st September. I would ask my hon. Friend to await that statement.
§ Mrs. MannCan we have some assurance that the pointage in this case will be down? Does the President of the Board of Trade consider that there is any incentive to a young man if it takes 26 coupons before he can get a suit? Does that represent "fair do's" all round?
§ Mr. WilsonAs I have said, this matter is being very fully considered and the pointage of a very large range of items is being considered in consultation with the two Committees which I have set up specially for the purpose.
§ Sir Stanley ReedWill the right hon. Gentleman at the same time protect the interests of the down-trodden male and see that the limited supply of his nether garments are not appropriated by women and worn by them in the form of slacks?
§ 33. Mrs. Mannasked the President of the Board of Trade how many coupons are respectively required for the summer flannel-type shirt worn by small boys, if woollen, cotton, or a combination of both.
§ Mr. H. WilsonA small boy's shirt with long sleeves requires six coupons whatever the material. With half sleeves it requires six if made of wool, five if made of cotton. Mixtures count as wool if they contain more than 15 per cent. by weight of wool.
§ Mrs. MannWould the President of the Board of Trade see that there is less confusion in regard to the pointage on boys' shirts, and also will he obliterate that confusion by relieving them completely from points?
§ Mr. WilsonMy hon. Friend will realise the difficulties about the concluding suggestion which she has made, but I have asked the two Committees in question to look very specially at the position of children's clothing. I am not aware of any of the confusion to which my hon. Friend has referred.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that woollen garments are piling up in warehouses and shops, and will he downpoint them as much as the cotton goods?
§ Mr. WilsonI am fully aware both from official statistics and from the advice we are getting from the trade about the stock position of all the garments we are considering at the present time. I do not think it would be at all helpful to try to isolate one of these garments and discuss it in the House in advance of the statement to which I have made reference.