HC Deb 02 November 1948 vol 457 c52W
Mr. Prescott

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to the agricultural community owing to the shortage of Hebden cord fustian breeches; and what steps he will take to increase their supply.

Mr. Bottomley

Home market supplies of all types of cotton cloths have fallen in recent months as a result of the diversion to export. The reduction in cloth supplies for these breeches has however been proportionately less than that in most types of cloth. Production is still insufficient to meet home and export requirements in full and I regret that home market supplies cannot be increased at present.