HC Deb 01 June 1943 vol 390 cc27-8W
Major Braithwaite

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish an explanation of the purpose of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Consumer Rationing Order (Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 707); and why there were only two days between the signing of the Order and the date of operation?

Mr. Dalton

This Order prohibits the use of any of the coupons in the 1943–44 civilian clothing books before a date to be fixed by a later Order. The Order was necessary because the distribution of the new food ration books, which contain the new clothing books, began on the 17th May, whereas the next clothes rationing period, as I informed my hon. Friend the Member for the Park Division of Sheffield (Mr. Burden) on 11th March last, does not begin until 1st September.

Mr. Gledhill

asked the Secretary of State for War, in what manner the manager of any hotel, boarding-house or lodging, is to establish the fact that any person is exempt from the provisions of paragraph 2 (b) of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Regulated Areas—By-laws (Statutory Rule and Order, 1943, No. 714), on the ground that the person in question is a member of His Majesty's Forces or of an Allied Force?

Sir J. Grigg

The paragraph referred to by my hon. Friend requires all persons over 16 to complete the whole of the registration form at a hotel or boarding house and to sign both parts of it. All members of the Forces including the Allied Forces carry identity documents whether in uniform or not. If a hotel-keeper has reason to believe that a person who refuses to complete the form is not a member of these Forces and if the person refuses to produce his identity documents, the hotel-keeper is justified in calling in the police. This by-law now incorporated in this Statutory Rule and Order has in fact been in force for over a year in Statutory Rules and Orders, 1942, Nos. 234 to 238, and as far as I am aware has caused no difficulty.

Mr. A. Reed

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the definition of the word "utility" for the purpose of the Apparel and Textiles (Utility Goods) Order (S.R. & O., No. 696 of 1943)?

Mr. Dalton

The word "utility" is used in these directions in relation to utility goods. Utility goods are goods to which the utility mark, illustrated in the third Schedule to the Apparel and Textiles Order (S.R. & O. 1942, No. 1000), has been affixed. The various classes of goods affected are described in the directions issued under this Order.