Lord H. CAVENDISH BENTINCKasked the Pensions Minister whether he has refused to provide the capital funds necessary to equip the training centre 2224W which the Northern Counties Joint (Disablement) Committee propose to establish at Rutherford College; whether he will explain the reason for this refusal in view of his repeated declarations that facilities for training disabled soldiers will be provided by the State; and whether the necessity to raise voluntary subscriptions for this purpose will involve delay in the provision of adequate training for disabled soldiers in the northern counties?
§ Mr. HODGEThe question of providing capital funds to equip Rutherford College as a centre for training disabled sailors and soldiers was raised at a meeting in Newcastle. On the day of that meeting an offer was made to provide the necessary funds privately, and the offer was accepted on behalf of the Ministry. It is hoped to instal the machinery at an early date, and it will then become the property of the institution, and will remain for the use of the locality when the need for training disabled men no longer exists. There will be no delay in the application of the funds above referred to the provision of adequate training for disabled soldiers in the northern counties.