HC Deb 29 July 1947 vol 441 c37W
Mr. Piratin

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of the good value which the public receives in purchasing utility clothing, it is his policy to increase the amount of non-utility clothing at the expense of utility clothing.

Mr. Belcher

The proportion of utility goods in the total production of clothing for the home market is being maintained at a high level. Recent increases in the proportion of non-utility goods are designed to take advantage of production in certain sections of the cloth and clothing industries which are not well fitted to produce utility. Moreover, some people still prefer with their coupons to buy non-utility, which does not share in the subsidies paid by the taxpayer on most utility goods and is also liable to Purchase Tax.

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