§ Lord Jenkins of Putneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Minister for Social Security has renewed his efforts to solve the dispute at the Roehampton artificial limb factory as undertaken (H.C. Deb. 27th October 1986, Col. 24) and whether they will report progress as soon as possible.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe Government remain anxious that J. E. Hanger and the trade unions concerned should refer this matter to ACAS as soon as possible with a view to ending their dispute.
In the meantime the department will continue to seek information from the Hanger management about the arrangements which they intend to make to maintain supplies. In addition, the department is maintaining continuous contact with the company about individual patients to ensure that urgent cases are dealt with without delay. The Government also remain anxious that patients requiring attention should not hesitate to ask for the advice from their local artificial limb and appliance centres in the usual way.