§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Army Medical Department and the entire medical profession in this country are mainly dependent on foreign manufacturers for the supply of tubes for X-ray examinations; and will he state what steps he proposes to take so that the United Kingdom may not be dependent on foreign countries for a supply in the event of war with a continental Power.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) HaddingtonThe X-ray tubes required for military hospitals are purchased from contractors in this country who obtain many of their supplies from continental manufacturers. The few glass blowers in this country who make X-ray tubes are unable at the present time to produce tubes in sufficient number to meet the demand or to equal in quality and price those manufactured abroad. As these articles would be used for the relief of the wounded I do not anticipate that they would be considered as contrabrand in the event of a war with a continental Power.