§ 3. Mr. G. HARVEYasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the number of contractors to the Ministry for artificial limbs has been recently reduced from 14 to two, and special concessions made to those favoured two films to the unreasonable detriment of the other 12; and is he prepared to reconsider his decision and meet a deputation from the remaining 12, whose businesses have consequently been necessarily seriously curtailed, if not actually closed down?
§ 4. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Pensions why the number of firms supplying artificial limbs to disabled ex-service men through the Ministry of Pensions has recently been limited to two?
§ Major TRYONIn consequence of refusal by the firms of limb-makers, hitherto under contract with the Ministry for the supply of artificial metal legs, to continue to renew their contracts except on terms which would have involved a greatly increased charge on public funds, T appointed a Committee of Inquiry presided over by the hon. and gallant Member for Grrenock (Sir G. Collins) and including the hon. and gallant Member for Fairfield (Major Cohen) and other representatives of disabled officers and men, to investigate the whole position with regard to the supply and repair of this type of limb. Following the Committee's report and recommendations, the number of firms with whom contracts are 545 made for the supply and repair of artificial metal legs has been restricted to two. I have already received a deputation representing 10 of the 12 firms of limb-makers who no longer hold contracts for the supply and repair of these limbs, and have informed them that the matter cannot be reconsidered. I am sending the hon. Members a copy of the report of the Committee.
§ Mr. HARVEYMay I inquire whether the two favoured firms had terms offered to them which were denied to the other firms?
§ Major TRYONThe position is simply this, that these firms formed a combination against the Government, and, thanks to this Committee, we have secured not only a cheaper supply of limbs, but we have secured for the ex-service men maintenance clauses in the contract.
Lieut. - Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLMay I ask whether at least one of these firms to which the right hon. Gentleman referred were not the pioneers of the action against the Government, and whether they have not been favoured in consequence to the detriment of the others?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONHas the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that the limbs supplied by these two firms are as good as the limbs supplied by the others?
§ Major TRYONThat is so. The limbs supplied are of the first quality. The composition of the Committee shows that the ex-service men's interests were fully safeguarded.
§ Mr. MORRISONFrom another point of view, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this has caused considerable dissatisfaction among ex-service men who have been using artificial limbs of a certain make, and have to get used to artificial limbs of another make. Could not arrangements be made whereby these men who have been using limbs of a particular make could continue to have them?
§ Major TRYONIf the hon. Gentleman will give me any case where a man has suffered any disadvantage, I shall be glad to go into it, but I do know that firms who lost the contract have been asking ex-service men to make representations.
§ Major COHENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Committee paid very little attention to finance, but considered, on the evidence that they heard, that these two types of limb were the best, and that it was in the interests of the disabled ex-service men themselves that they recommended them.
§ Major TRYONI am sure the House would like me to express the debt which I think the ex-service men and the whole community owe to those who have served on this Committee. I am sure they put the interests of the disabled men as the first consideration.