HC Deb 09 December 1941 vol 376 c1396W
Mr. Lindsay

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now able to provide coupons for physical training clothes for members of the Air Training Corps?

Sir A. Duncan

No, Sir. I am unable to agree to provide coupons for this clothing out of civilian rations.

Mr. Groves

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will inquire into the circumstances attending the demand by his Department at Bournemouth, reference No. 1 & M. Div 2 C/13/124526, that coupons be surrendered for second-hand clothing which had been sent from America to a firm in London for distribution among the employees who had suffered from enemy action; and whether he will consider freeing from the coupon procedure any clothing which is given freely to those who, owing to enemy action, are poor and distressed?

Captain Waterhouse

Persons who as a result of enemy action suffer from shortage of clothing may obtain sufficient supplementary coupons to restore their wardrobe to an adequate level. It would therefore be unfair to other members of the community and wasteful of supplies if they were enabled to obtain clothing, whether as gifts or otherwise, without surrendering the appropriate number of coupons. Second-hand clothing, if given or if sold below certain prices, is coupon-free. It has now emerged that the gift clothing to which the hon. Member refers is second-hand and there will therefore be no need to collect coupons in this case.