charity Age Concern, Shadow Health and Social Services Minister Kim Young said yesterday.

Ms Young said the Government money in this year's Budget was to create a special one-stop shop for the elderly.

She added that Age Concern was planning a similar operation, but was still raising funds.

Ms Young said that Government had budgeted $122,000 in last year's financial blueprint for Nelson Bascome's Health and Social Services Ministry for the centre, but it had not yet been built.

She added: "A total of $182,000 was allocated in this year's Budget, but the Minister says he is waiting for a report from the International Year of Older Persons before he goes ahead.

"Meanwhile, Age Concern is all set to go. We do not need duplication of services so I asked the Minister of Health and Family Services to consider allocating the $182,000, which Government has put aside, in the form of a grant to Age Concern so they don't have to fundraise and can proceed with the provision of this very important service to our senior population.

"To me, this makes absolute sense from a practical point of view.'' Ms Young said that the previous United Bermuda Party administration had promised a seniors' centre in the run-up to the last General Election -- which the party lost.

Health and Social Services Minister Nelson Bascome was yesterday off the Island and could not be contacted for comment.

Acting Minister Milton Scott, however, appeared to rule out Government using the cash as a grant to Age Concern.

And he said: "The two will complement each other and we do already provide funding for many private sector initiatives.

"Any private sector initiative is something we welcome -- we want to avoid duplication and we're more than willing to work people, but we recognise we have a responsibility here as well.'' SENIORS SR