§ 80. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Pensions how many administrative areas have been closed; and in how many cases protests were made by the War Pensions Committee?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)If the hon. Member refers to areas constituted under Section 1 of the War Pensions Act, 1921, the reply is that no such areas have been closed but that eight areas have been reduced to four by amalgamations to which the Committees concerned have agreed. If, however, the hon. Member has in mind changes in the arrangements made for the medical administrative areas the reply is that combinations of medical staff have been carried out in some 25 areas during the past three years, and in no case have protests been made by War Pensions Committees in the districts concerned.