asked the Minister of Health what plans he is making to improve the Royal Eye Hospital, St. George's Circus, S.E.1.

The regional board has no plans for further developments at this hospital.

Will the hon. Gentleman go along and have a look for himself at the primitive and, indeed, appalling conditions which prevail in this hospital? If ever a place could be called a slum, this is it. Will he go and have a look at the registry staff working in coal holes underneath the pavements, and have a look at the outpatients department in which outpatients are examined in full view of all other out-patients sitting on long benches in the out-patients department and have a look at the spiral stone staircase up and down which blind and half-blind elderly people have to grope? Is not the Minister really ashamed of himself that such slum conditions should be allowed to continue in a hospital like this in the heart of the Metropolis?

It is precisely because of the difficulties at the hospital that the board proposes that additional ophthalmic services shall be at district general hospitals. I am advised that it would be more convenient to patients if the existing ophthalmic units at district hospitals were maintained and improved rather than that we should have a new ophthalmic hospital in London. I must add that the description of the hospital given by the hon. Member cannot gloss over the fact that the hospital has done splendid work.

In view of the completely unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.