§ 76. Mr. Shurmerasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that sheets, tablecloths and curtains have become so threadbare that housewives are experiencing difficulty to know how to replace them; when he expects that increased production will enable more of these articles to be released to the shops; and why the wide difference in price of buying with or without dockets.
§ Sir S. CrippsYes, Sir. Substantial increases in production of sheets and curtains have taken place over the past year, and a limited production of cotton and linen utility tablecloths has also been 261W arranged. Arrangements already made should lead to some increase in the supply of these goods. Docket holders are entitled to obtain utility goods, which are substantially cheaper than non-utility goods because of the closer control exercised over their production and distribution and because they are exempt from Purchase Tax. Some utility sheets are, however, available for sale to non-docket holders, and the price of these goods is the same whether they are sold to docket holders or to other purchasers.