asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what experiments have been made to use materials other than leather for the manufacture of surgical boots and orthopaedic shoes.

There have been experiments over a period of years with a wide variety of alternative materials. Microcellular plastic is now in common use for the soles and heels of surgical footwear. Foamed polyethylene is used for insoles and foam-backed nylon linings have also been introduced where appropriate. Synthetic leather uppers have proved unsatisfactory, except for specialised applications such as vacuum-moulded or urine resistant footwear. Experiments are continuing with the use of high density plastic foam in lieu of cork to compensate for shortening of the leg.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of a pair of fitted boots for use with a caliper, excluding the cost of the caliper; and what is the average cost of one pair of orthopaedic shoes to be worn without calipers.

Records are not kept in such a way that a mean cost can be calculated for a particular type of surgical boot or its nearest analogue in a different category. The order of cost is that if, as they might, surgical boots for use with a caliper cost about £52, a pair of surgical shoes, functionally comparable apart from the caliper requirement, would be likely to cost about £49.