HC Deb 24 February 1953 vol 511 cc1887-8
11. Mr. Dodds

asked the Secretary of State for War what allocation of nylon stockings is to be made to the members of the Women's Royal Army Corps.

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Antony Head)

At present the first issue is three pairs of rayon for No. 1 Dress and four pairs of lisle for working dress. It is proposed, as soon as stocks permit, to substitute nylon for the rayon and issues of nylons in certain sizes have already begun. We have also changed the colour.

Mr. Dodds

Is not the Minister ashamed of that statement? Is he not aware that the issue of nylons has been granted for some time to women in the Navy and that from 1st March all the women in the W.R.A.F. will be getting nylons? Why must these women continue to be the Cinderellas of the Services?

Mr. Head

They are going to get nylons, and for the first time their recruiting has passed that of the W.R.A.F.

Mr. Mikardo

Does the Minister expect to change over from rayon to nylon before or after all other women have changed over from nylon to terylene?