asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations have been made to him for elastic support hose to be prescribed under the drug tariff regulations; and if he will make a statement.

I have received seven letters making representations about elastic hosiery.There is an adequate range of elastic surgical hosiery, in a variety of yarn weights and lengths from anklets to thigh-length stockings, already prescribable under the drug tariff provisions. These conform to specifications which have been developed after consultations with hosiery manufacturers and representatives of the medical and pharmaceutical professions and meet the needs of most patients suf-