§ 11. Mr. Baxterasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the young offenders institution proposed to be built at Wester-wood Farm, Cumbernauld.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithMy right hon. Friend's Department is in consultation with the local authorities concerned about a proposal to erect a male young offenders institution of 560 places on this site. No final decision whether to proceed in the matter will be taken until these discussions have been completed and until the proposal has been advertised publicly and any representations have been considered.
§ Mr. BaxterWhile one appreciates the need for such an institution, one hopes that the hon. Gentleman will have regard to the close proximity of the site to the main roads of Scotland and its nearness to a railway line. Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind also, in view of a previous answer, that there are 51,000 people requiring hospital beds and that there is a need for a hospital in the Cumbernauld area? Can the hon. Gentleman assure us that the site will be allocated for the most appropriate purpose?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithA hospital site has already been earmarked in the Cumbernauld area. As for access to communications, it is important that institutions of this kind should be reasonably close to the major courts in the West of Scotland and have good communications. However, I shall be glad to meet the hon. Gentleman, as I have already arranged, with a view to discussing the matter in more detail.