asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, in spite of a public declaration by the Bakers' Union that bread supplies would be maintained to hospitals and other essential services, hospitals have been kept short during the present strike; and what has been the result of his discussions with the union about this failure to implement this undertaking.

When I saw the officials of the Bakers' Union last week, they assured me that arrangements had been made to secure the maintenance of bread supplies in hospitals. Neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has so far received any report of bread shortages at hospitals.