Sir F. HALLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the local food committees have authority to dispense with, or modify, Orders as to rationing in the case of invalids; if so, would this extend to persons suffering from rheumatoid arthritis who were ordered special diet by their medical attendant; and, if so, whether he will make inquiries into the circumstances under which the Lewisham Food Committee declined to sanction any modification of the food rations in the case of a lady who suffers from this complaint and refused to furnish a form of certificate to be filled in by her medical advised?
§ Mr. PARKERFood control committees are empowered to grant extra rations to invalids in the case of certain specified diseases only. Rheumatoid arthritis is not one of these. They are also empowered in any exceptional case of disease, in which they are of opinion that a special allowance of meat or butter should be granted, to forward the application to the Ministry of Food for the consideration of the medical adviser. From the details given in the question it would not appear that the Lewisham committee have in any way exceeded their powers, but if the hon. Member will send me particulars of the case to which he refers I will have further inquiries made into it.