§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the proposed closure of Alwyn house, Fife; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayRepresentations have been received from 16 hon. and right hon. Members, North-East Fife district council, representative bodies and members of the public as well as from some of the trainees at Alwyn House. These have urged the case for retaining in Scotland the facilities currently provided at this establishment for the training and assessment of blind and partially sighted people for employment.
Any decision to close would be for the owners of the premises, Edinburgh and South-East of Scotland Society for the Welfare of the Blind, in the light of the resources available to them from statutory and voluntary sources. Interested parties are currently engaged in consultations and I understand that early closure may be in prospect unless a solution can be reached in relation to certain capital and revenue funding requirements. No grant assistance has been provided by my Department and no application for grant is before me.