§ Mr. Vaughan-Morganasked the Minister of Health whether he yet proposes to transfer any of the directly administered war pensioner hospitals to the administration of the appropriate regional boards and management committees in accordance with the intention stated in paragraph 14 of the White Paper on the Transfer of Functions of the Ministry of Pensions.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodYes. I am satisfied that the time has come to make arrange-
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Hospital board Project Provisionally Scheduled to start Newcastle Regional Hospital Board New hospital for West Cumberland 1956–7 Prudhoe and Monkton Mental Deficiency Hospital development scheme—phase I 1956–7 —phase II 1957–8 Middlesbrough General Hospital Accident and Orthopaedic Department 1956–7 Leeds Regional Hospital Board New Hospital at Huddersfield—phase I 1957–8 Sheffield Regional Hospital Board Scunthorpe and District War Memorial Hospital development scheme 1956–7 Aston Hall Hospital Extensions 1957–8 Doncaster Royal Infirmary development scheme 1957–8 ments of this kind for two of the hospitals, as has already been done for the war pensioner units at Taunton, Cosham and Stoke Mandeville. I have therefore decided to transfer administrative responsibility for Dunston Hill Hospital, Gateshead, and for Mount Pleasant Hospital, Chepstow, from 1st April next. The special character of these hospitals as centres for war pensioners will not be changed, and pensioners will continue to receive absolute priority of admission and treatment and the facilities they have enjoyed in the past. The various representative war pensioner organisations will be consulted when making appointments to the hospital management committees and house committees concerned to ensure adequate ex-Service representation. The necessary steps will be taken to safeguard the interests of all the staff concerned.