§ Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will make a statement on the proposals for a sports centre to be built at a cost of £420,000 at the State Hospital, Carstairs;
(2) what representations the Government received that persuaded them to agree to the provision of a sports centre at the State Hospital, Carstairs, at a cost of £420,000;
(3) what will be the size, facilities and estimated cost of the proposed sports centre at the State Hospital, Carstairs;
(4) on what dates the building of the proposed sports centre at the State Hospital, Carstairs, is due to begin and be completed;
(5) what existing sporting and recreational facilities are available to the inmates of the State Hospital, Carstairs;
(6) how many inmates at the State Hospital, Carstairs, will have access to and the use of the proposed sports centre;
268W(7) whether he will withdraw proposals for the building of a sports centre at the State Hospital, Carstairs, at a cost of £420,000 in view of the Government's policy of reducing public expenditure.
§ Mr. MillanProjects for capital works at the State Hospital are initiated by the State Hospital Management Committee, having regard to the needs of patients and staff, and are subject to approval by my Department. No representations from other sources have been received.
In recent years a programme of supervised recreation has been identified as an important element in the treatment of State Hospital patients, most of whom are young, vigorous and aggressive. The Management Committee therefore decided to give priority to this aspect of treatment, and in so doing to provide also a facility for hospital staff, their families and local sports organisations.
The project was first considered in 1972, and in July 1974 a scheme was finally approved, consisting of a games playing area, squash court, changing room and toilets and public seating, with a total floor area of 1,502 square metres. The hall will be available to about 350 patients, about 360 staff and their families, and such local organisations as may wish to use it. For the convenience of users from outside the State Hospital it has been sited just inside the main gate of the hospital's west wing.
For indoor recreation the patients at present make use of the two general-purpose halls providing only limited facilities, one in each wing: neither of these is well sited for outside participation; the outdoor facilities, which are of limited use in the circumstances at Carstairs, comprise a bowling green, a tennis court, and two football pitches, one for each wing.
Tenders for the games hall were accepted early in September. The cost is currently estimated at £420,000. The work has made considerable progress and completion is expected during 1978. To suspend the work at this stage would be a waste of funds already committed, besides depriving the State Hospital of a much-needed treatment and recreational facility and the area of a worthwhile project.