§ 10. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that Cairnhill House, Airdrie, which provides residential accommodation for blind persons, is a very old building, has outside conveniences, and is hazardous in many other respects, apart from stairs. if he will consider replacing it by a modern type of home which would be more suitable for persons with such regrettable disabilities.
§ Mr. MaclayCairnhill House is not regarded by the Joint Committee of the local authorities responsible for it as unsatisfactory or hazardous for its purpose and replacement is not contemplated. I understand, however, that the Committee have plans in hand for supplementing the existing internal toilet accommodation by additional internal provision.
§ Mr. DempseyDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that a large part of the building is more than three hundred years old and the remainder more than one hundred years old, and that there are several flights of stairs at different levels which the blind people have to negotiate? As Secretary of State for Scotland, does he not think it would be nicer to spend money building a new flatted type of home on a site near by?
§ Mr. MaclaySome old houses are capable of useful adaptation. Neither my Department nor, I understand, the joint committee which runs the home on behalf of twenty-three local authorities has knowledge of any representations about danger or accidents in the home, at least during the last two years, the period which I have examined.