§ 15. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in the interests of those who suffer from blindness and diseases of the eyes, he will arrange for the Sick Quarters occupied by the R.A.F., at Bad Eilsen, Buckeburg, in the British zone of Germany, to be returned to Dr. von Tippelskirch, an ophthalmic surgeon who, by reason of the seizure of his clinic by the British authorities, is unable to provide an adequate and indispensable service for his patients.
§ 27. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the loss to the local inhabitants as well as British and other residents by the requisitioning of the eye clinic previously occupied by Dr. Tippelskirch, at Bad Filsen, Buckeburg, Germany; that as a result no operations can now be performed by this doctor; and, in view of the fact that it is now being used only for minor ailments of the R.A.F., whether some alternative accommodation will be found for them and the clinic made available for the purpose for which it was designed.
Mr. McNeilThe retention of the premises formerly occupied by Dr. von Tippelskirch has been very carefully examined by my noble Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Control Commission authorities in 187 Germany in conjunction with the R.A.F. I regret that it is not possible to de-requisition the clinic, but the Military Governor has undertaken to see that Dr. von Tippelskirch is provided with suitable accommodation.
§ Mr. Edward EvansIs my right hon. Friend aware of the acute shortage of qualified ophthalmologists in Germany today, and that when I was in Cologne last year I found that only one out of the 20 who were in practice there before the war is now working there? Should not everything be done to conserve eyesight in Germany?
Mr. McNeilWe are not here concerned with the oculist service personnel which is available. It is a question of accommodation.