§ Colonel ASHLEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the present system of soiling surplus Government stores of clothing in bulk renders it impossible for ex-service men to compete with the big dealers; whether, under the circumstances, he is prepared to grant special terms to ex-service men's organisations to purchase smaller supplies, involving an expenditure of, say, £500; and whether, in such circumstances, he will allow the same discount as has been granted in the case of huts, namely, 20 per cent.?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe whole of the clothing in the hands of the Disposal Board was in the first place offered for sale in small quantities. The quantities sold by this means were, however, inconsiderable, and in order to get the clothing on the market as rapidly as possible it was necessary to sell in large blocks. My hon. and gallant Friend will remember that the discount of 20 per cent. allowed to ex-service men's organisations on the purchase of huts was a special concession granted by the Ministry on the condition that a bulk order was made.
Mr. DAVISONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Bradford Corporation to order 5,000 more suits from the Disposals Board for the purpose of supplying the citizens of Bradford who cannot afford to pay 8 or 10 guineas for a suit of clothes; whether the Disposals Board are supplying the Paris Corporation with suits to be sold to the citizens of Paris; whether he is aware of any obstacles being put in the way of executing the order of the Bradford Corporation; and whether the Disposals Board 1722W are raising any objection to meeting the order?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am aware of the decision of the Bradford Corporation referred to by the hon. Member. No suits have been supplied by the Disposals Board to the Paris Corporation. I am not aware of any obstacle being put in the way of executing the order of the Bradford Corporation other than the price originally offered by the Corporation, which was too low. The Corporation subsequently raised their price to the level of that at which the suits had by that time been sold, and the Corporation was so advised. No other objection to meeting this order was raised by the Board.