HC Deb 25 March 1948 vol 448 cc3339-41
65. Mr. Thomas Brown

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to issue the industrial ten clothing coupons to those persons now employed as home and domestic helpers.

Mr. H. Wilson

No, Sir. The industrial ten is given to factory workers because of the abnormal wear and tear on their clothes through working in a factory, but there are schemes already in force under which home helps and domestic helpers employed full time in approved local authority schemes, and also holders of the Diploma of the National Institute of Houseworkers, are assisted with the provision of protective clothing.

Mr. Brown

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the response to the appeal which has been made by the Minister of Labour has not been very ready, because these people who are prepared to work as domestic helpers and home helpers cannot get the industrial ten to help to furnish the clothing which is absolutely necessary, and will he have another look at this?

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider allowing to domestic helpers in private establishments, who have to use their own clothes, the same coupon facilities as those provided for local authorities, as they are doing just the same work?

Mr. Wilson

I will have a look at the whole thing, but I do not see very much hope of extending the industrial ten far beyond its present coverage.

Mr. Vane

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why there should be such a discrimination between, say, a cook who happens to hold the particular diploma he has mentioned and somebody who does not hold it, but who is doing similar work which is equally hard on clothes?

Mr. Wilson

It is necessary to draw the line somewhere, because it is not possible to extend this concession to domestic workers without equally extending it to the housewife, which is the first thing I should like to be able to do.

70. Mr. Driberg

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will at once issue emergency clothing coupons to the family of Mr. Weller, Bardfield Road, Finchingfield, Essex, whose bungalow with all its contents, including clothing books, was completely destroyed by fire on 15th March, and who has had no reply to his application for immediate replacement.

Mr. H. Wilson

No completed form of application appears to have been received from Mr. Weller. As soon as I heard of the case, however, I arranged for an officer of the Assistance Board, who act as the agents of the Board of Trade in these matters, to call on Mr. Weller, and he has instructions to deal with this matter urgently. As soon as I receive a report on the case I will communicate with my hon. Friend further.

Mr. Driberg

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him if he is aware that no application form was received from this man only because some of the details which are required on such an application form were destroyed with the clothing books, so that he could not fill in the details?

Mr. Wilson

Yes, Sir, that question was was gone into very urgently, and special steps were taken to give him interim help in the matter.