§ 17 and 18. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Pensions (1) if he is aware of the present difficulties of pensioners who require stump socks and of the inadequate of the issue of six socks per year; and what steps he is taking to increase the issue in the future;
(2) if he will make a statement on the shortage of white woollen stump socks; and when his Department expects to have reasonable stocks.
§ The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Buchanan)I am aware of the present difficulties and I am doing all I can toward making larger individual issues of these articles. Additional contractors have been obtained and with the help of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, through the Disabled Persons Corporation, plans have been made to use the services of disabled persons in Remploy factories. I am glad to say that production is improving and as soon as the position allows I will increase the issue of socks to individual pensioners.