HC Deb 14 July 1949 vol 467 cc650-1
63. Mr. Haydn Davies

asked the Minister of Health to what extent it is his practice to provide free clothes for hospital patients.

Mr. Bevan

I shall be glad to clear up the many gross misrepresentations on this. I have told hospitals, in effect, to go on doing what was already proper hospital practice before the Health Service—that is, to lend clothing to patients who cannot provide it for themselves or get it from any other agency, and to let them keep it on discharge when inquiries make it clear that they cannot otherwise get it. It will normally only arise, as in the past, for long-stay ambulant patients without resources.

Mr. Davies

In view of the fact that there were certain alarming stories in the newspapers about the Minister going into the tailoring business in a big way, could he tell us what steps he proposes to take to ensure that hospital authorities know the answer he has just given me?

Mr. Bevan

I hope that hospital authorities themselves will be made aware in the normal way of the answer that I have given to the Question. But I do most sincerely deprecate the grave misrepresentations that certain newspapers—two of them in particular—have been guilty of in this matter. [HON. MEMBERS: "Names."] The two newspapers are the "Graphic" and the "Evening Standard."

Mr. Marlowe

Was this gross misrepresentation made by "the most prostituted Press in the world" or the Press which is "inferior to none"?

Mr. Bevan

No. It was made by the two newspapers which have competed for the lowest position in the British Press—the "Evening Standard" and the "Graphic."