HC Deb 29 April 1947 vol 436 c201W
83. Mr. Skinnard

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many clothing coupons recruits discharged as medically unfit after less than three months' Army service receive, in addition to civilian clothing and a re-issued ration book.

Mr. Belcher

The provision for the grant of 90 supplementary coupons applies at present to all who are discharged from the Forces after at least one month's satisfactory service. We have recently proposed to the Service Departments that the qualifying period should be raised to six months and we hope to be able to make this change in the near future.

89. Mr. Hastings

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a newly-married couple are given dockets sufficient for the purchase of only two linen, or, alternatively, three cotton sheets; and whether, in view of the inadequacy of this provision because of the impossibility of washing and drying sheets in many homes and the long delay in the return of washing from laundries, he will consider increasing the allotment.

Mr. Belcher

Newly-married couples are enabled to buy up to three double sheets, or six single if two beds are used, without surrendering their own clothing coupons. This is the same allocation as was made when sheets were on dockets and I am afraid that newly-married couples who want more must be prepared to surrender clothing coupons like other people Double linen sheets require one more coupon than double cotton sheets because they are made in larger sizes, but they represent only a small proportion of the total production; married couples who prefer them must, I am afraid, be prepared to surrender a small number of their own clothing coupons.