§ 42. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will examine the difficulties to applicants for social allowances in the Hartlepools arising from the spread of buildings dealing with pensions, insurance and National Assistance, with a view to integrating these services in a building or buildings more convenient to the public.
§ Mr. BoydenThe Department is planning to erect a new building to house the two offices of the National Assistance Board together on a site about a quarter of a mile from the present Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance Office.
§ Mr. LeadbitterMy hon. Friend has indicated some progress in a field which is of some concern to the local authority in Hartlepools. May I ask him to review this matter again because in this town there is a good deal of extensive central area development, and the possibility may arise of minimising the difficulties to the public?
§ Mr. BoydenThe Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance is in good accommodation held on a long lease, and re-housing would not be justified at present 877 on economic grounds. As to the proposal for a new building, this is scheduled to start in 1967 and will be ready for occupation in two years. Although I would undertake to look at the point, I think one would have to be rather careful about altering plans which are going ahead and which will almost certainly relieve the problems which my hon. Friend has posed.