Viscountess Astorasked the Home Secretary whether the women in the Civil Defence Services will be supplied with proper uniforms suitable to winter weather; and, as they can only wear the uniforms on duty, will he arrange for uniforms to be had without coupons.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe uniforms, the provision of which I announced in the House on 22nd May, are now becoming available in large numbers and are being offered to local authorities in a suitable priority order. Women engaged on outdoor duties in the Civil Defence General Services may be provided with serge uniforms, greatcoats and shoes. As announced in the House on the 16th October by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, part-time members of Civil Defence Services will not be required to surrender coupons in respect of uniforms. Whole-time members, in common with other wearers of essential civilian uniforms, will surrender an annual number of coupons calculated on the basis of the saving of wear to their own clothing.