§ Major BIRCHALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements I have yet been made for the evacuation of 1701W the building of the Leeds Training College by the military authorities; and, if not, whether he is aware how seriously their continued occupation is prejudicing the cause of education in the North of England?
Captain GUESTIn view of the fact that 507 orthopædic cases, 170 jaw cases, the whole nursing and massage staff, and all the administrative offices of the hospital are situated in the training -college buildings, I regret that vacation cannot take place until suitable arrangements have been made to ensure the uninterrupted treatment of these special cases. The hospital is a highly specialised unit, dealing with the orthopædic, facial, and limbless cases, and to start another such unit in its place would be detrimental to the patients and uneconomical at the present stage.
It is hoped, however, that by transferring some of the orthopædic cases to vacant beds elsewhere the number of beds will be so reduced as to enable the hospital to continue to function in the hutted portion, and so release the main building. This change involves converting part of the hutted portion into an administrative block, and the local military authorities concerned have been instructed to consider whether these alterations are feasible in order to effect the release of the College at an early date. The expediency of releasing educational buildings has been constantly represented to the local military authorities, who can he depended on to make every possible effort to give up possession of this training college.