§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support has been given by Her Majesty's Government towards the building of a rehabilitation centre for limbless ex-Servicemen in Zimbabwe; how much money has been allocated to the project; what representations he has received from the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association on the matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil MartenThe British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association made a number of representations last year on the need for assistance to the limbless in Zimabawe.
The Zimbabwe Government have not asked us for financial support for a rehabilitation centre. However, they did ask us last year to consider the need for a chief orthopaedic technician for the Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare and, at the same time, to assess a proposal from the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health for the construction of a national rehabilitation centre.
The expert's report recommended that as the Zimbabwe Ministry of Labour and Social Services was already constructing a new rehabilitation centre—at an estimated cost of $ (Zimbabwe) 6 million—it would be appropriate for the Ministry of Health to colloborate with this project rather than to build a second centre. The requirement for a chief orthopaedic technician was confirmed and a suitable candidate is being sought for appointment under our technical co-operation arrangements.