§ 82. Mr. Thurtleasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that mothers with very young children are finding the present soap allowance inadequate for the purpose of maintaining a reasonable standard of cleanliness; and if he will devise some plan for supplementing the allowance in such cases.
§ Mr. StracheyI realise that it may be difficult for mothers with small children to manage on the present rations of soap and have done all I can to ease the position by granting special allowances. Unhappily, until the fat supplies increase I am unable to increase the present ration scales of soap any further.
§ 86. Mr. Gammansasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that, in the last week in January, out of 62 shops in the borough of Hornsey selling soap, 24 were unable to honour soap coupons presented to them; and if he will take steps to eliminate the inconvenience to housewives who are compelled to go from shop to shop to try and buy soap.
§ Mr. StracheyAs I explained to the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley (Captain Crowder) on 22nd January, I have recently authorised manufacturers to increase the distribution of soap by 5 per cent. and that should ease the position.