§ 38. Major Petoasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that within the last few days an urgent appeal has been made in Birmingham on behalf of local hospitals for soap and toilet requisites needed by Service casualties; to what extent such an appeal indicates a measure of unpreparedness to deal with casualties which, according to official statements, are lighter than was expected; and what steps he is taking to remedy this shortage.
§ Mr. WillinkYes, Sir. I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food that the permits available to hospitals are sufficient to enable them to meet all requirements for soap products, including toilet soap, and that appeals such as those referred to in the Question 1299 are not justified. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War has informed me that ample provision has been made for the supply, where necessary, of other toilet requisites for the use of Service patients, whether in military hospitals or in civilian E.M.S. hospitals.