§ Mr. DENNISONasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the proposed transference of the limb-fitting centre at Uffculme to Lionel Street, Birmingham, is causing concern to the limbless ex-service men on the ground that the change 359W will not provide adequate accommodation; and will he state the cost of the present and the new establishments, respectively?
§ Major TRYONAny such apprehensions as those referred to are, I am satisfied, entirely groundless. The accommodation which is being provided at the area office, so far from being inadequate, is quite as extensive as that now occupied by the centre at Uffculme, and, in view of the more central position, should be found much more convenient to pensioners. It is, I fear, not practicable to arrive at the comparative cost of the old and new arrangements. The position is that, on the one hand, Uffculme Hospital—of which only a small part has been used for the limb centre—is now no longer required by the Ministry, whilst, on the other hand, the contraction of the work of the area has rendered it possible for the centre to be transferred to the area headquarters without the need for increasing accommodation there. It will be seen, therefore, that, while a very substantial saving is being effected, no new cost is being incurred.