§ Mr. KIRBYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing among ex-service men who are patients in Ministry of Pensions hospitals as to the cheap, ill-fitting, and badly tailored suits issued to them; and whether he will arrange to clothe the men concerned in a manner worthy of the services they have rendered to their country?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMDistinctive and uniform clothing for hospital patients has been found essential, more especially to secure for them, when outside the hospital premises, the protection and assistance from the public which is very important in the case of most disabilities. The blue uniform supplied has to be of a strong, but washable material. Suits are kept in several sizes but, as a large proportion of the patients are not detained for more than quite a short time in hospital, suits Made or altered for each patient would, I fear, be impracticable. In regard to the last part of the question, I may point out that precisely the same type of suit is currently in use in military hospitals also.