§ Mr. WATTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that when extra food rations are asked for under medical certificates from local food committees in Scotland the invalids are requested to communicate with 29, Upper Grosvenor Street, London; that the minimum time for a reply to such request is three days, and the average time ten days; that cases have been known where the patients had succumbed before Upper Grosvenor Street found time to reply; and whether, in these circumstances, local food committees in Scotland will be granted power to give extra rations under medical certificates?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe Food Controller has been largely guided by the medical advisers to the Ministry of Food in deciding how such applications should be dealt with. Food control committees already have power to grant extra rations in the case of certain diseases and steps are about to be taken as the result of experience that will enable local food offices to deal with a larger number of cases without reference to London.