a building from which to run its promised senior's centre.

He said it would be located in the old Fairhavens building on Victoria Street and expected the basic programme to start in April.

The new centre would be staffed by one manager, two case managers and one intake worker, and Mr. Bascome said among the benefits were that it will be wheelchair friendly and centrally located.

Earlier in the debate Shadow Health Minister, Kim Young criticised Government's lack of action concerning seniors.

She said that the PLP's response to the throne speech in 1996 called for the need to balance health care needs for the elderly and so on, but she said that all seniors have been given by the current Government is a few free trips on buses and ferries and free entry to the aquarium.

"How quickly people forget their own words,'' she said.

Mrs. Young said that a "phantom'' senior's centre had been budgeted $122,000 in 1999/00, and this had increased to $184,000 in the current budget.

Mrs. Young said that prior to the last election, the UBP were planning to provide such a facility, and was happy that the PLP took up the initiative.

She also said that local charity Age Concern had fund raised privately to provide a seniors centre that should be given support, and suggested Government join up with Age Concern in a public/private partnership which she said would not only save money, but also benefit seniors.

United Bermuda Party backbencher Cole Simons , called on Government to give seniors more attention after they received only one percent of the health ministry budget.

Mr. Simons said: "It appears as if Government would like nothing more than to relegate seniors out to North rock.'' and he said until he sees some change, he will continue to fight for their cause.

He called for a Health Action Plan and said that the Government had promised in their platform running up to the last election to conduct an in depth study into the rapidly aging population.

He asked: "Where is the study? when is it coming? There is nothing in this budget to address this issue, Bermuda waits, the seniors wait, I wait.

"Another unfulfilled promise,'' he said.

Mr. Simons also said the PLP platform stated that `Government will encourage the continued integration of seniors into the work force'.

However, Mr. Simons said he had not seen any indication that this had been acted upon and asked: "Where is the commitment? where is the action? Legislation has not come by the House.'' Mr. Simons said that the Government had also included in their platform that they would strive to regularly increase the Government pension for seniors.

However, Mr. Simons said there had been not a single cent increase.