§ 19. Mr. Granville Sharpasked the President of the Board of Trade what action is being taken to increase the supplies of children's boots and shoes made on lasts which take into account the special needs of growing feet.
§ Mr. H. WilsonConsiderable attention has long been given by many manufacturers to lasts for growing children and constant research is being carried out by shoe manufacturers and by the Boot, Shoe and Allied Trades Association to improve lasts for children's shoes; the shoe industry is making steady use of knowledge so acquired.
§ Mr. SharpIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a considerable shortage of children's shoes which provide for the needs of toe room and that the type of shoe with the straight inside is in very short supply throughout the country?
§ Commander NobleIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that supplies in Huddersfield are sufficient?
§ Mr. WilsonYes, Sir. The supplies of shoes in Huddersfield always were sufficient.
§ Mr. Somerville HastingsDoes my right hon. Friend realise the extreme importance of properly shaped shoes for children? Could he communicate with all the manufacturers asking them to arrange their lasts in order to provide shoes of the right shape?
§ Mr. WilsonYes, Sir. We have had a lot of discussion with the trade about this, but we have no statutory powers to compel the manufacture of particular types or shapes of shoes.
Vice-Admiral TaylorWill the right hon. Gentleman make quite certain that children are not walking about with bare feet?
§ Mr. WilsonYes, Sir. There is considerably less evidence of that going on now than there was before the war. I have already said that the supplies of shoes were always in adequate quantities; the trouble was the purchasing power with which to buy them.