§ 22. Mr. P. Freemanasked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange to have available additional clothing coupons for tubercular patients to obtain certain necessary clothing for use in hospitals, who are otherwise under hardship and who are unable to obtain them except after long delay, thus accentuating their suffering and mitigating their usefulness; or alternatively, if he will place a small number of clothing coupons at the disposal of medical officers for use in such urgent cases.
§ Mr. BevanIf my hon. Friend would let me have fuller particulars of any cases of special hardship in this matter which have come to his notice, I will be glad to look into them.
§ Mr. FreemanIs the Minister aware that I have already sent three letters to him on 28th November, 30th November and 4th December dealing with these points, which give this information and that I am still awaiting a reply?
§ Mr. BevanIf my hon. Friend mentions that he has sent letters towards the end of last month I must now make inquiries back to the source, and the information 599 must come back before I reply. In this case I should have thought that the lapse of time was quite reasonable.