§ 27. Professor Savoryasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the trade hardship suffered by Northern Ireland hairdressers by their being obliged to use their own clothing coupons to obtain towels for trade use and to carry out by-laws requiring the use of a clean towel for each customer; and if he will take action to enable these hairdressers to obtain an adequate supply of coupon-free towels for this purpose in the interests of public health.
§ Mr. H. WilsonI have received representations from hairdressers on this subject, but I am afraid that up to the present the supply position has not permitted a further quantity of towels to be made available to them. I shall, however, keep this matter under careful review.
§ Professor SavoryHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the by-laws of the Ministry of Health of Northern Ireland relating to hygiene in hairdressing, in accordance with which a clean towel must be used for every client, and is he aware that leading barbers have said they have been obliged to use their own private coupons in order to comply with this law?
§ Mr. WilsonYes, Sir, but I am also aware of the very great need for maximum hygiene in catering establishments and many other places which are already short of towels, and of the acute shortage of towels on the home market.