HC Deb 18 January 1949 vol 460 c31
50. Mr. Janner

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now make a statement on clothes rationing.

Mr. H. Wilson

My two advisory committees are meeting on 27th and 28th January, and I hope to make a statement shortly afterwards.

Mr. Osborne

May I ask the President of the Board of Trade why he has turned down the advice of the leading clothing manufacturers, that in their opinion there are sufficient supplies to end clothes rationing by 28th February?

Mr. Wilson

The leading clothing manufacturers, are, to say the least of it, divided on the question of whether clothes rationing should come to an end.

54. Mr. W. Fletcher

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that most export markets for many lines of clothing are approaching saturation point and that, in consequence, stocks are accumulating in this country, he will either terminate clothes rationing or drastically increase coupon values.

Mr. H. Wilson

I propose to make a statement on clothes rationing shortly, but I must remind the hon. Member that total exports of apparel, and even more of cloth, are still rising, and that wholesale stocks fell by about 25 per cent. in the period from May to November, 1948.

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