§ 57. Mr. Harry Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances 800,000 pairs of Army boots are surplus to requirements; for how long these boots have been in stock; how he proposes to dispose of these boots; and if he will take into consideration the points made by the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation and the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives in their letters dated 25th October and 30th October, 1967, respectively.
§ Mr. MasonWe are equipping the Army with new and better boots. This represents good business to the footwear trade, and we are taking the views of 111W the trade into account in deciding how to dispose of the old boots. These have been in stock for about ten years, and we do not propose to get rid of them all at once.