§ Sir G. Gibsonasked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the fact that during the last quarter shoe manufacturers were able to produce only 80 per cent. of their quota owing to shortage of upper leather supplies, why shoe manufacturers have been requested to increase their production by 10 per cent. and a certain number of operatives are being brought back from the Forces and various industrial undertakings; and does he intend to increase the number of operatives in the leather producing firms to enable manufacturers to produce the necessary quantity of shoes and give employement to men returned to the shoe industry.
§ Captain WaterhouseThe shortfall in production of boots and shoes in the last quarter was considerably less than is suggested in the Question, and was due not to lack of upper leather but to shortage of labour. Materials from current production and from stocks are available for the planned output for the current quarter. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.