HC Deb 01 July 1948 vol 452 cc2355-6
31. Commander Noble

asked the Minister of Health whether he will reconsider his decision not to assist the Chelsea Borough Council in obtaining linoleum for the Public Library.

Mr. Bevan

No, Sir. The shortage of supplies makes it necessary to impose severe restrictions on the use of linoleum, and I regret that permits cannot yet be issued for its use in libraries.

Commander Noble

While I appreciate the Minister's remarks about the shortage of this material, could he not reconsider his decision in view of the fact that it involves replacing material destroyed by enemy action, and bearing in mind the great benefits afforded to students by the public reference library?

Mr. Bevan

Yes, but they can use the library without necessarily having linoleum. When we are short of linoleum it is necessary to restrict its use to such places as hospitals, maternity hospitals and places of that kind.