§ 7.33 p.m.
§ LORD DENHAMMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in the name of the Earl of Bessborough. [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is a fact that limbless French officers have been brought to this country to be supplied with artificial limbs and that a number of them are now being returned to France without being supplied; that if this is due to shortage of supply, why this circumstance was not known in advance; and whether further consideration may be given to this matter in the interest of Anglo-French relations.]
1147§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD NATHAN)My Lords, on September II last, nine French disabled Servicemen, including one officer, arrived at Queen Mary's (Roehampton) Hospital accompanied by a French surgeon who asked that they should be fitted with artificial arms. It appears that without previous consultation with the Ministry of Pensions they were brought to this country under arrangements made by the French authorities, who sent them to Roehampton Hospital without notification to the Ministry of Pensions: accordingly no prior arrangements for their reception and the supply of artificial arms had been made. The men were seen, however, by the Ministry's chief limb surgeon at the hospital and measurements were taken pending further information from France.
During a recent visit to this country of representatives of the French Ministry of Labour and Social Security, demonstrations of British artificial limbs were given and it was learnt subsequent to the men's arrival that the object of sending them to Roehampton was to obtain practical examples 1148 of British limb-fitting. Discussions have also been proceeding with the French regarding the best methods of making available to them arms of the type supplied to British personnel. The Minister of Pensions has expressed every desire to help, but has pointed out that there are considerable supply difficulties at the present time and that he cannot be a party to an arrangement which would delay the delivery of arms to those men for whom he is responsible. The French Military Attaché was informed on October 5 of the supply position and it was suggested to him that as there would be considerable delay in the delivery of the artificial limbs, it might be well if meanwhile these men returned to France. I understand that under arrangements made by the French Military Attaché they are at present staying at a convalescent home near Camberley. As the Ministry of Pensions had never been told that the men were arriving, it had no opportunity of explaining the supply position to the French authorities.
§ House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before eight o'clock.