§ 75. Mr. John R. Thomasasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that no men's utility flannel trousers have been obtainable in the Dover constituency for several months; whether he can give any indication as to when supplies will be made available; and whether he is aware that non-utility flannel trousers are available in quantities.
§ Mr. BelcherAlthough retailers' stocks of utility flannel trousers throughout the country are low because of the steep increase in demand following demobilisation, the position in Dover is not quite so bad as my hon. Friend suggests. Inquiries which I have caused to be made show that a number of leading outfitters there have small stocks of utility flannel trousers in addition to fair supplies of those made of tweeds and other utility materials. As regards the second part of the Question, the level of production of utility flannel cloth in recent months has improved, but any substantial increase depends upon the success of the wool industry's efforts to increase output. As regards the last part of the Question, deliveries of utility flannel trousers to leading Dover outfitters during the last three months were some five times those of non-utility.