§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now give permission for the building of the extension to St. George's Adult Training Centre, Stonehouse, Plymouth, in view of the fact that otherwise it will be necessary to reduce the numbers or close it down.
§ Mr. AlisonI understand that the existing centre has rather more trainees than its facilities can comfortably accommodate and that the extension aims to provide 175 new places, some of which would afford relief to the existing accommodation. The proposals for the extension involve some very high abnormal costs which we have asked the authority to justify. My right hon. Friend is also presently reviewing the social services building programme in the light of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement on 17th December—[Vol. 866, c. 952–66]—and present indications are that it will not be financially possible to approve projects such as this one earlier than about the middle of next financial year.