§ 69. Sir W. Darlingasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that laundries, because of shortage of staff and cleaning agents are restricting their services to the public; what steps he intends to take to improve this serious menace to public health; and if he is prepared to consider increasing the soap ration for persons who are not able or desirous of availing themselves of the restricted laundry service.
§ Mr. BelcherWe are aware that laundries, owing to labour difficulties, are only able to give restricted services to the public, but all possible steps are being taken to increase the labour force in the industry and to improve the supply of cleaning agents so far as raw materials will permit. Sympathetic consideration is also being given to applications from laundries for licences to enable them to import labour saving machinery. As regards the last part of the Question, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food that the supply of oils and fats will not permit of an increase in the domestic soap ration at the present 201W time, and that it would be administratively impracticable to grant a differential soap ration according to whether or not the consumer makes use of the services of laundries.