§ 35. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for clerks employed in cotton weaving shops to be issued with industrial clothing coupons.
§ Sir S. Cripps:The Industrial Ten supplement is intended to compensate workers engaged on heavy manual duties for the extra wear and tear caused to their clothing. There is no justification for allowing extra coupons to the class of persons named.
§ 37. Mr. A. Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that dinner gowns have a coupon value of seven, whereas afternoon frocks with far less material also have the same coupon value; and whether he will consider reducing the coupons necessary for the latter.
§ Sir S. Cripps:I am not prepared to reduce the coupon value of women's dresses, which were fixed according to the average cloth content of an ordinary day dress.
§ 38. Flight-Lieutenant Haireasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to permit the issue of off-duty clothing to serving soldiers or whether he will issue clothing coupons in lieu.
§ Sir S. Cripps:I have as yet nothing to add to the reply which was given to similar Questions on this matter on 1st July.
§ 71. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the President of the Board of Trade why persons returning to the United Kingdom from India and other parts of the Empire 137W have to wait months for supplementary clothing coupons in order to fit themselves properly for this climate; and what steps he is taking to expedite the granting of these coupons.
§ Sir S. Cripps:I regret there have been some delays due to the increase in the number of applications from people coming into the United Kingdom from India and other tropical countries. The delay has been reduced to 14 days for postal applications and I hope that this period will be progressively shortened.
§ 78. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is prepared to issue clothing coupons to churches and chapels in order that they may renew their robes and vestments when necessary.
§ Sir S. Cripps:With the exception of cassocks, ecclesiastical robes and vestments are not rationed. I have the position of cassocks under consideration.