§ 86. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Labour (1) if, in view of the concern arising from the decision to close the Kidbrooke rehabilitation training centre, he will state the date on which the centre is to close; how many disabled persons needing sheltered employment will cease working there; what action is being taken to find them suitable alternative employment; and what success has been met with in this respect;
(2) why it was decided to close the Kidbrooke rehabilitation centre; what is the saving involved; and to what use the buildings will be put in future.
§ Mr. HareI am not proposing to close any Industrial Rehabilitation Units. There is no Industrial Rehabilitation Unit at Kidbrooke, but I am considering 57W closing the Government Training Centre there because it has for some time been running well below strength and because there are five other training centres in or near London which have vacant training places available. If it is decided to close the Centre, this would be done by 31st March, 1962. Most of those now in training at the Centre should have completed their courses before that date; the others would be given the opportunity of transferring to other centres. There are no persons at the Centre needing sheltered employment and, consequently, the question of finding them suitable alternative employment does not arise.
The saving would be about £33,000 a year in administrative costs apart from the saving on overheads such as machinery, materials, heating, etc., borne on the Votes of other Departments. The Centre premises stand on Crown land and their future use in the first instance is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works.