§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that there is evidence that many naval ratings are suffering from diseases in which vitamin deficiency plays an important part; and whether, in view of the present impossibility of obtaining these vitamins from natural sources, he will make available, as is already done in the Army and the Royal Air Force, artificial products to replace them and enable medical and dental officers to prescribe them?
Mr. AlexanderThis question has been the subject of an inquiry. There is no evidence to support the suggestion that naval ratings suffer from diseases in which vitamin deficiency plays an important part. With regard to the second part of the Question, synthetic vitamins are available to medical officers on demand, and there is no restriction on their use when considered necessary.