§ 17. Mr. Dobbieasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the continuing difficulty of obtaining batteries for hearing aids by people who are hard of hearing and the inconvenience caused through this; and if he will take action to remedy this shortage.
§ Mr. DaltonI regret that supplies of these batteries have recently been seriously affected as a result of enemy action. But I am glad to say that full production was resumed last month, and the manufacturers are now doing their utmost to catch up arrears.
§ Mr. HyndIs the Minister aware that the difficulty in obtaining new batteries is not in all cases due to shortage, but to the practice of firms holding up orders for many months in order to try to force people to take new contracts for new outfits?
§ Mr. DaltonI doubt whether that is very widespread, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars I will look into it. In this particular case, enemy action affected the production.