§ Sir G. Jonesasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a number of shopkeepers cannot realise their stocks owing to the coupon system; and whether, as the sale of such stocks would only involve a transfer of money from the purchasers to the shopkeepers and would not divert labour or material from war purposes, he will help shopkeepers to face their heavy losses and increase the yield of Purchase and Income Tax by taking steps to enable shopkeepers to sell their existing stocks of goods of a luxury or semi-luxury character?
§ Sir A. DuncanA situation of the kind referred to arose on the initiation of clothes rationing, and in July and August traders were allowed to sell certain luxury goods on a reduced scale of coupons. Since then the position has been closely watched, in consultation with the Retailers' Advisory Committee on Clothes Rationing, and I am advised that no further action of this kind is either necessary or desirable.
§ Sir L. Lyleasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now announce his decision on the request of butchers and meat traders for special consideration in regard to non-couponed aprons and overalls?
§ Captain WaterhouseThe reduction in the numbers of coupons required for industrial overalls and aprons which was announced on 19th November should enable workers needing a reasonable number of such garments to meet their needs out of the basic ration of 66 coupons. The question whether butchers and meat traders have a special claim for supplementary coupons is still under consideration with the interests concerned.