§ 27 and 28. Mr. Oldfieldasked the Minister of Pensions (1) the number of persons in the employ of his Department whose sole duty is to provide tuition in correct walking on artificial legs; and the number of persons in the employ of his Department whose sole duty is to provide tuition in the use of artificial arms and interchangeable attachments;
(2) the exact size of the rooms in which legless men learn to walk on their artificial legs; and the size of the rooms set aside for this purpose for legless women at the 347 Ministry's limb-fitting centres at Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester.
§ Sir W. WomersleyTuition in the use of artificial limbs and their attachments is given by the limb makers in the early fitting stages and subsequently by the limb surgeons. Up to the present time the need has not arisen for the employment of whole time instructors but I am proposing to appoint such persons at the three artificial arm centres. I regret that exact information as to the space available at each centre is not readily obtainable but the need for ensuring that the rooms set aside for instruction purposes are of adequate size is kept constantly in mind.
§ Mr. OldfieldWill the right hon. Gentleman kindly pay a visit to Manchester and look at the room there?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI know the special difficulties in Manchester. To obtain suitable premises in the centre of Manchester at the moment is very difficult indeed. I have that in mind and I am doing the best I can to put the matter right.