§ 2. Major Sir Jocelyn Lucasasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the continuing acute shortage of dry batteries for amplifying instruments for deaf people; and whether he will release sufficient batteries to remedy this state of affairs?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)I fully appreciate the importance of maintaining the supply of batteries for deaf-aid apparatus; and I am aware that, owing to urgent war contracts, there has been some shortage recently of certain types of batteries. I hope that, as a result of arrangements which I have now made, the manufacturers will soon overtake arrears.
§ Sir J. LucasThank you, Sir.
§ Sir Francis FremantleIf that is so, will my right hon. Friend see that batteries are available for all types of instruments, because hitherto only some of the more expensive ones seem to have been dealt with?
§ Mr. DaltonYes, Sir. We are conscious that there have been one or two gaps in the production programme, due, I repeat, to war contracts, as the troops need these things for several purposes; but I hope that all the arrears will be caught up.