asked the Minister of Food whether he can now see his way to granting fishermen an extra soap allowance.

No, Sir, not in the present severe shortage of oils and fats.

Is the Minister aware that fishermen, more than any other members of the community, have to wear very thick clothes, and if they send woollen jerseys to the laundry they probably do not come back for a long time and then may have shrunk, and it is necessary that they should be washed at home?

I realise the difficulties, but I am afraid that if we started on an extra soap ration for these categories, it would be very difficult.