HC Deb 27 July 1937 vol 326 c2853
53. Sir Douglas Thomson

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the new contract for the supply of surgical boots to disabled ex-service men, replacing the contract recently held by an Aberdeen firm, calls for hoots hand-made throughout as have been hitherto supplied?

The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Ramsbotham)

The new contract follows the form in use over the whole Kingdom with the single exception of North Ireland. It provides for "bespoke hand-sewn" boots throughout except that the soles may be machine stitched and the heels attached mechanically.

54. Sir D. Thomson

asked the Minister of Pensions how many orders for surgical boots for disabled ex-service men were completed in Scotland in 1936; and in how many cases were these orders to repeat as previously supplied?

Mr. Ramsbotham

1,702 pairs of surgical boots were supplied in the whole of Scotland during the year 1936. I have no record of the precise number of these which were renewals on existing specifications, but the great majority would be of this description.