§ Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the position of the Lancashire cotton industry, he will issue a circular to hospital management boards calling attention to the desirability of their specifying manufacture in the United Kingdom as an essential for all requirements containing cotton manufactures.
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§ Miss Hornsby-SmithMy right hon. Friend sees no reason for any special instruction. Hospital authorities themselves purchase the textiles and made-up goods they need for hospital purposes and he has no reason to believe that they buy unwisely. It is their general practice to purchase cotton manufactures from manufacturers or merchants and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that where a suitable cloth made in the United Kingdom is available they do not normally purchase imported goods.