§ 32. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce the necessary legislation to make it legally obligatory on manufacturers of nylon and silk stockings to use locknit machinery and ensure that these articles are made ladderproof.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo, Sir. The hon. Member is presumably referring to machinery which will knit ladderproof mesh stockings. The supply of such machinery is very limited and it would not be reasonable or practicable to make its use obligatory. I am satisfied that, when the necessary machinery is available, manufacturers will make their decisions as to what type of stockings to manufacture in the light of public demand.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Minister not aware that if he would encourage the use of this type of machinery we would be able to sell more nylon stockings abroad, that the women of this country would be very pleased indeed to get ladderproof nylon stockings and that he, in turn, would become the friend of the women of this country for all time?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI think that the ladies who have these stockings must be entitled to decide for themselves what type of stocking they require.