§ 32. Mr. Beattieasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the reasons for holding up the delivery of an iron lung to the Northern Ireland Hospitals Authority at Goraghwood Customs post for a period of six weeks; and if he will have this matter fully investigated, with a view to having medical appliances of this kind exempted from delay under the same conditions as apply to fire engines and ambulances.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Londonderry (Mr. Wellwood) on 1st December. As to the second part, special temporary importation arrangements are made for fire engines and ambulances entering Northern Ireland in an emergency, but these temporary importation arrange- 199W ments cannot be applied to medical appliances which, as in this case, are being permanently imported into Northern Ireland.