§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on Scottish Office funding for designated places under the provisions of section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980;
(2) how many designated places have been created in Scotland since the passing of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980; and where these are located;
(3) if he will make a statement on future plans for the number of designated places under section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 in (a) Strathclyde and (b) Scotland;
(4) what funding will be available from the Scottish Office for the establishment of designated places under section 5 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 in Strathclyde in 1990–91 and 1991–92.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 1 May 1990]: One designated place, at Aberdeen, is currently in operation. This received a grant from the Scottish Office under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Grant has also been approved for a designated place at Inverness on which construction is expected to start shortly, and was offered for another, at Dundee, which did not proceed because of local opposition.
The provision of designated places is a matter for local statutory bodies and voluntary organisations. I understand that initiatives are in preparation in Strathclyde 637W and elsewhere in Scotland. Scottish Office financial assistance depends on the nature of the applications received and on other demands on available resources.