§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to ensure that the national uniform now authorised for the Merchant Service, with the requisite stripes, can be purchased by those entitled to wear it and, particularly, whether any difficulty has been placed in the way of the supply of the necessary lace; and, if so, whether he can take steps to see that these difficulties are removed?
§ Mr. WARDLEAn Order was made under the Defence of the Realm Act in July prohibiting the use of gold lace otherwise than for the uniform of His Majesty's Services and the Mercantile Marine, except under special licence from the Board of Trade. The object of this Order was to ensure that the requirements of the Services and the Mercantile Marine for gold uniform lace should be met so far as the shortage both of labour and material in the gold-thread industry would permit.