HC Deb 14 February 1940 vol 357 c783W
Miss Wilkinson

asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the broadcast appeal of the director of wool supplies to women to knit woollen gloves and other woollen comforts for the Forces, for which there is a shortage of specialised machinery for their mass production, he will make available such woollen yarn as can be spared for this purpose free to recognised organisations of women who are anxious to give their services to help the armed Forces in this way but who cannot afford to purchase wool even at the wholesale prices allowed to the Red Cross?

Mr. Burgin

I understand that a number of voluntary organisations make knitting wool available without payment to those of their members who are willing to produce knitted garments for the Forces.

Sir A. Knox

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by knitting parties all over the country in obtaining wool owing to the present system of control and that if wool was made available the output of comforts for the troops could be easily doubled; and whether he will look into this matter?

Mr. Burgin

Large supplies of wool are made available by the Wool Control to spinners for the production of hand knitting yarns to be sold to recognised voluntary organisations engaged in knitting comforts for the Forces. The demand for hand knitting yarns, however, has been very heavy, and I am advised that the output is limited by the capacity of the spinning machinery available for their manufacture.