§ 32. Mr. Odeyasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the efficiency of the National Health Service is being gravely impaired by the inability of doctors to obtain new cars; and whether he will consult with the manufacturers and with the other Departments concerned, with a view to arranging for an effective priority for the supply of new cars to be given to doctors whose existing cars require replacement.
§ Mr. BevanI am aware of the difficulties which are not, of course, peculiar to doctors. Motor car distributors and dealers have already been asked to give preference to doctors whose need is urgent, and these arrangements were made after considering representations from the profession's representatives.
§ Mr. OdeyWill the right hon. Gentleman examine the evidence which I have sent him and which clearly shows that, in the East Riding of Yorkshire at any rate, there is no adequate supply of new cars for doctors, and does it not seem pointless to spend these vast sums on the National Health Service if the right hon. Gentleman will not take elementary steps to see that doctors can get to their jobs?
§ Mr. BevanThe figures, which I think were given by the East Yorkshire branch of the British Medical Association, show that out of 114 of the doctors who had applied, 76 had post-war cars and only 38 had what were described as unsuitable pre-war cars.