HC Deb 08 January 1942 vol 377 cc72-3W
Captain Plugge

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that laboratory workers handling chemicals in connection with urgent Government supplies, have to provide coupons for the protective clothing they must wear owing to the nature of their activities; and whether he can arrange for such protective clothing to be available coupon free?

Captain Waterhouse

Laboratory workers, like other members of the community, are normally expected to provide their working clothes out of their ration. Those who wear overalls benefit both by the recent reduction in the coupon-rating of these garments and by the saving of wear on ordinary clothes which overalls undoubtedly afford. Special arrangements are being considered in co-operation with representatives of industry to meet the cases of laboratory workers who need a very large amount of protective clothing, or whose clothing is severely damaged by industrial accident.

Sir I. Fraser

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state how an officer, or other rank, invalided from the Services, may obtain coupons for civilian clothing and give wide publicity to this concession?

Captain Waterhouse

Members of the Services who are permanently discharged will receive a civilian clothing card from their local food office at the same time as they get their civilian food ration books. If, for any good reason, the civilian wardrobe of discharged persons has fallen below the essential minimum level, they may also obtain from their local authority information centre the appropriate form on which to apply to a Collector of His Majesty's Customs and Excise for supplementary coupons to enable them to resume civil life with an adequate stock of clothing. Full information on this procedure is in the possession of the Service authorities.

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