§ 35. Mr. Edward Daviesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the great difficulty persons with deformities are experiencing in obtaining suitable footwear; and whether he will take steps to make available more ladies' boots, and cork and leather to meet special requirements.
§ Mr. BelcherI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newton (Sir Robert Young) on 6th February last.
§ Mr. DaviesI have seen that reply. Does the hon. Gentleman not recognise 1235 that there is still great difficulty about getting surgical boots for people who require them? There are not sufficient soft boots, nor sufficient supplies of cork and leather for people who need surgical boots.
§ Mr. BelcherIn any case of particular difficulty I shall always be pleased to do what I can to assist. If that difficulty arises from lack of materials, the real trouble in this industry is the shortage of skilled craftsmen.
§ Earl WintertonIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the case that came to my notice the other day of a lady who had been ordered by a consulting surgeon to wear a particular kind of boots, and who was informed that she could not obtain them for over a year? Will he not, if his attention is called to such cases, do something to remedy a situation that is causing real hardship?
§ Mr. BelcherI shall be more than pleased, if the noble Lord will let me have details of that particular case, to do all I can.