§ 3. Mr. Haleasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the proposed increases in the range of utility clothing.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI have nothing to add to the statement which I made about the Utility schemes on 13th March during the debate on the Budget proposals.
§ Mr. HaleIn view of the fact that that deplorable statement was made after this Question was put down, will the right hon. Gentleman now undertake to produce in the form of a White Paper, or in some other handy form, the results on prices of the action that he has taken, with some comparable extracts from the Conservative propaganda on the price of clothing at the last Election?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI will endeavour to see if all the information which the hon. Gentleman could wish for on this matter can be made available to him.
§ Mr. Harmar NichollsIs my right hon. Friend aware that, as the position stands at present, people who can buy suits off the peg have the benefit of the utility range, but people like disabled ex-Service men who have to have suits made to measure have to pay Purchase Tax?
§ Mrs. E. M. BraddockCan the President of the Board of Trade tell me where his responsibility ends and where the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer commences in this matter? Is he aware that a Question which I put to him about the price of outsizes has now been transferred to the Chancellor of the Exchequer? May I have an answer, because this is a very important matter?