asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that there is a great demand for white home-made flannel for underwear use by the very small farmers and poorer type of fishermen on the West Cork seaboard, and that the shopkeepers cannot get a sufficiency of such flannel to meet this demand owing to the restrictions of the quota and coupon system; and, if so, if he will consider removing white flannel of this description from the materials included in the quota and coupon system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flannel Supplies.
To facilitate the distribution of handwoven materials, including white home-made flannel, the coupon values of these materials were reduced to nominal figures in November last and arrangements have been in operation for over 12 months to enable traders to obtain special buying permits for the purchase of homespun and handwoven cloths over and above the quantity of woollen and worsted material allocated to them under quota. It is open to all traders to avail themselves of these special facilities and I do not consider it necessary or desirable to make further concessions by excluding white flannel from the rationing and buying permit schemes.