§ 33. Mr. Willisasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why old cars are taken from disabled pensioners whilst they are awaiting the new replacement car; and the average length of time taken to replace old cars.
§ Mr. J. N. BrowneWhere an old car due for replacement is required by the pensioner for the purposes of his employment he can retain it while awaiting the replacement car if he wishes to do so. In other circumstances the car is not retained by the pensioner, but my right hon. Friend is reviewing the procedure with a view to allowing more pensioners to retain their old cars until their replacement is available.
The time taken for delivery of a new car is normally from six to ten weeks, depending on whether modification is necessary.
§ Mr. WillisIs the hon. Gentleman aware that cases have been brought to my attention where the time taken was four months? Will he treat the subject mentioned in the first part of his Answer rather urgently? It is quite unfair that these disabled men should be without cars for four months.
§ Mr. BrowneI agree with the latter part of the hon. Member's supplementary question. As for the first part, there was a delay between August and October because tie hand operation was found to
| SCHEMES APPROVED FOR MODERNISATION OF HOSPITALS IN EDINBURGH FOR WHICH PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR | ||||
| Hospital | Scheme | Estimated Total Cost of building | ||
| £ | ||||
| Gogarburn | … | Extension of Steam Mains | … | 20,700 |
| Alteration to plant and pipework in boilerhouse | … | 2,900 | ||
| Queen Mary Maternity Home | … | Fire precautions | … | 4,000 |
| Alteration to provide nurse' accommodation | … | 27,000 | ||
| Estern General Hospital | … | Renewal of heating system | … | 56,000 |
| Renewal of electrical system | … | 34,000 | ||
| Plaster repairs, etc., following above | … | 6,300 | ||
| Leith Hospital | … | Rectifying electrical system | … | 11,200 |
| Western General | … | Rectifying electrical system | … | 38,400 |
| Improvements to heating and hot water in nurse' home | … | 12,636 | ||
| Improvements to children's wards | … | 13,500 | ||
| Alteration to pathological laboratory | … | 6,000 | ||
| Royal Hospital for Sick Children | Lift to casualty department | … | 3,000 | |
| Bruntsfield | … | Improvements to theatre suite and sterilising facilities | … | 16,851 |
| City I. D. Hospital | … | Electricity—conversion from D. C. to A. C. | … | 12,000 |
| Adaptation for central laundry | … | 19,000 | ||
| Modernisation and cubiclising of pavilion 16 | … | 22,000 | ||
| Royal Victoria Hospital | … | Renewal of boiler plant, etc. | … | 37,000 |
| Deaconess Hospital | … | Boiler plant—modification and additions | … | 4,500 |
| Edinburgh Royal Infirmary | … | Replacement of auto stokers | … | 4,000 |
| Alterations to V. D. and skin departments | … | 8,000 | ||
| Princess Margaret Rose Hospital | … | Extension to X-ray department | … | 5,500 |
| Total | … | £364,487 |
§ 35. Mr. Hoyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what schemes have been submitted to him for the provision of new hospital building and nursing accommodation in the City of Edinburgh.
§ Mr. J. N. BrowneSchemes amounting in all to £1,400,000 already submitted and approved are now in hand or about to start. As the list is rather long I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HoyIs the hon. Member aware that in reply to a Question I put to the 1002 be faulty. That backlog has now been made up, and deliveries are normal.