§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, in the absence of my noble friend Lord Southwood, I beg to ask the question standing in his name.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, in view of public anxiety, especially among housewives, about the poor quality of children's boots, both in manufacture and on the repairing side, whether it is possible to release adequate supplies of the right kind of leather to remedy this state of affairs.]
VISCOUNT CLIFDENMy Lords, in the absence of my noble friend Lord Portal, I have been asked to reply to the question put by my noble friend Lord Listowel in the absence of my noble friend Lord Southwood. The leather supply position continues to be difficult, but it has lately been possible to make available rather larger quantities of the better kinds of leather. The position, particularly in regard to children's boots, is under constant review, and steps have been and are being taken to improve the production and repair of children's boots in regard both to quality and to quantity.
§ House adjourned.