HC Deb 12 March 1946 vol 420 cc185-6W
92. Mr. Daggar

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that discharged soldiers have to wait five, six and 10 weeks for their civilian clothes; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that these men are enabled to be dressed as civilians.

Mr. Lawson

Delay in the issue of civilian clothes only occurs when the men cannot be fitted from sizes in stock. Every effort is being made to reduce the time taken to supply made to measure garments in such cases. The shortage of certain standard sizes, which has arisen as a result of the recent high rate of release is being rapidly overcome.

95. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that an ex-Serviceman, of whose name and address he has been informed, is still awaiting delivery of the size eight shoes and the raincoat which were not available when he passed through No. 10 C.C.D. on demobilisation on 24th January; what is the average period of delay in such cases; and if he will either cause the process of forwarding to be expedited, or consider issuing extra cash and coupons, so that men may purchase privately articles not available in the depots.

Mr. Lawson

A raincoat and shoes will be issued to this man in the course of the next few days. Delay in the issue of civilian clothes only occurs when the men cannot be fitted from sizes in stock. At present the time lag in these cases for issue of raincoats is from four to eight weeks. That for shoes is normally much shorter. Every effort is made to reduce these periods to the minimum. I am not prepared to adopt the alternative suggestion made in the last part of my hon. Friend's Question.

125. Sir D. Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that demobilised soldiers are compelled to hand in their greatcoats at Olympia and that civilian overcoats or raincoats are not available for some of them; and if he will give immediate instructions to permit such men being allowed to retain their greatcoats until civilian supplies are available.

Mr. Lawson

It a man cannot be fitted with a raincoat at Olympia he may retain his military greatcoat on payment. The only occasions on which soldiers are compelled to hand in their greatcoats are when they are issued with raincoats.