§ 42. Mr. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the fully-fashioned nylon stockings sold in this country are seconds; and when 1538 does he expect to increase the supply of perfect stockings to the home market.
Mr. H. WilsonThe necessity to meet the export demand for the highest quality of fully-fashioned nylon stockings has meant that the home market has, so far, received a greater percentage of stockings which are below the high standard which will apply when production more nearly approaches the level of total home and export requirements. The percentage of "perfects" at present going to the home market is about 50 for fully-fashioned nylon stockings and about 67 for circular-knitted nylon stockings.
§ Mr. OsborneCan the Minister say when this supply of nylon yarn will be increased sufficiently to allow only perfect goods to be put on the home market?
Mr. WilsonIt would be very difficult to give any categorical answer to that until we know more about the success of the manufacturers in pushing their sales in hard currency areas.
§ Mr. OdeyWill the Minister bear in mind that the women of this country are getting very tired of being fobbed off with second-grade articles? Will he also bear in mind that the impression is being created in this country that our own manufacturers cannot produce first-class goods, which is quite untrue?
§ Mrs. MiddletonWould my right hon. Friend make inquiries to see what percentage of nylon stockings in this country are of the fishnet or locknit variety? Would he do more to get that type of stocking on the home market?
Mr. WilsonI should want notice of that, but I am pursuing inquiries into a number of questions about nylon manufacture, and more particularly about conditions of distribution of nylon stockings.