Old foes Zane DeSilva and Louise Jackson reignited their war of words over FutureCare and Lefroy House in a familiar clash in the House of Assembly.Mrs Jackson bombarded the Health Minister with Parliamentary Questions on two of her pet subjects; he replied by thanking the veteran MP for giving him the chance to promote what a good job the Progressive Labour Party is doing.Such is the wonderful condition of Lefroy House, claimed Mr DeSilva, he can’t wait until he’s old enough to become a resident there himself.Shadow Seniors spokeswoman Mrs Jackson opened the day’s Question Time session by asking whether it’s fair that some FutureCare clients are paying $600 for the same benefits as others who pay just $300.“Absolutely,” replied Mr DeSilva, who pointed out the current rate for local companies is between $1,500 and $2,000.“Is $600 fair? Certainly, when you compare to what’s out there.”Mrs Jackson rephrased: “Is paying $300 and others paying $600 for the same benefits fair?”Mr DeSilva answered that those who can’t afford $600 can approach Families Minister Glenn Blakeney for financial support.Switching topics with her next question, Mrs Jackson asked whether $19 million had been allocated to renovate Lefroy House because it was in a deplorable condition; she claimed no such work had been carried out in five bedrooms.Mr DeSilva replied: “In 1998, because of the most deplorable state we found Lefroy House in, we spent between $5 million and $6 million to date. We continue to upgrade Lefroy House.“It’s a wonderful facility. I have been there many times. It’s a place where I would certainly send my family.“I hope it’s around when I reach that age, Mr Speaker, because I can’t wait to get there.”Mrs Jackson then asked what had happened to ten patients who were transferred from Lefroy House of the Sylvia Richardson facility in the East End.“We have continued since 1998 to upgrade Lefroy House,” repeated the Minister.“We have renovated several rooms. I don’t know which five she is referring to. They are in great shape, and the folks that are there are very happy.”Next, Mrs Jackson asked whether it was true $1 million of Lefroy House’s funds had been transferred to the LCCA (Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association) which helps needy members of the public.“We certainly did, Mr Speaker,” responded Mr DeSilva, who thanked Mrs Jackson for giving him the chance to point out what he claimed was another of his party’s achievements.“LCCA provides a very, very successful and needed service to our people that have financial difficulties in this Country.“We did transfer $1 million to LCCA to assist those folks who had difficulty taking their loved ones to go overseas to get the treatment they required.”Mrs Jackson then asked what is the time frame for a complaint to be acted upon by the Office for Seniors.“As quickly as possible,” said the Minister.“Is it protocol for the Office for Seniors to respond to a complaint at all?” asked Mrs Jackson.After Mr DeSilva refused to answer what he claimed was a strange question, Mrs Jackson went on: “Is the typical time for responding for a call for help for a senior in abuse a period of two weeks?”Mr DeSilva said: “How long is a piece of string? That’s such a wide open question. I can’t answer that.”Earlier in the morning’s session, Mr DeSilva had delivered a lengthy Ministerial Statement responding to Mrs Jackson’s complaints of rising health costs in his absence the previous week.He said the National Health Plan aims to reduce healthcare inflation to the same level as general inflation.“We are taking steps to make our healthcare system both more sustainable and more accessible for our entire population,” said Mr DeSilva.He also made a defence of the Senior Abuse Register Act, which Mrs Jackson had labelled weak.“Over the course of the last year or two, reports have been made, investigations have taken place, cases have been taken to court and there have been convictions — so the system is working,” said Mr DeSilva.During Question Time, One Bermuda Alliance MP Grant Gibbons asked why cost control at the hospital isn’t a significant part of the health plan, and why fewer patients are being treated despite costs rising.The Minister replied that the answer is within the health plan.