§ Mr. R. Morganasked the President of the Board of Trade why the issue of protective clothing to employees in import food packing factories and in creameries, hitherto sanctioned, has now been cancelled; and whether he will reconsider the decision in the interests of the cleanliness and efficiency of those handling these foodstuffs?
§ Captain WaterhouseThe arrangements by which food executive officers could certify the coupon-free supply of overalls to certain workers in the food industry have been withdrawn following the reduction in the coupon value of such overalls from seven to three. At the new rate a worker should be able to obtain a reasonable amount of overalls out of his basic2086W ration without prejudicing his general position, bearing in mind the saving on his ordinary clothing effected by wearing overalls. Any continuance of the former coupon-free arrangements would give the worker an advantage over other members of the community.
§ Sir R. Gowerasked the President of the Board of Trade the types of food-producing factories where, under new regulations, protective clothing is no longer to be sanctioned to employees; and whether, in all such cases, he will ensure that medical officers approve before such food manufacture is carried out by people in their ordinary clothes?
§ Captain WaterhouseI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan), a copy of which I am sending to him.
§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now decided to grant supplies of coupon-free wool to local comforts committees whose object is to provide knitted comforts to members of the Forces from their own localities?
§ Captain WaterhouseNo, Sir. Arrangements by which local comforts committees could obtain coupon-free wool for comforts for local men serving in the Force would result in overlapping of distribution and consequent waste of wool.