HC Deb 05 November 1945 vol 415 c887
22. Mr. Bernard Taylor

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for the purchase of surgical appliances to be coupon free.

Sir S. Cripps

Surgical appliances which are not a substitute for ordinary clothing are already coupon free. In other cases, coupons must in fairness be surrendered. Supplementary coupons are, however, normally given to people who have to wear surgical appliances for the first time and in other cases of exceptional difficulty.

Mr. Maxton

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman say on what date these appliances were made coupon free?

Sir S. Cripps

If the hon. Member will put that down on the Paper, I will let him know.

Mr. Maxton

Why will not the right hon. and learned Gentleman look at the list, and realise that nobody wears any of these things either for show or for entertainment; and will he reconsider the question of making the whole list free of coupons?