List D Schools (Hansard, 9 February 1983)

§ Mr. Younger

In the statement which I made on 1 December 1981—[Vol. 14, c. 77–78]—I said that I would continue to keep under review the scale of provision in the list D schools in the light of demands being made on their services. This has been done, and during the period since my last statement the number of pupils has declined from 1,110 to 910 now.

There has therefore continued to be a fall in demand for places in list D schools, and it was against that background that my Department issued a consultative memorandum proposing the withdrawal of certificates of approval from Tynepark school, Haddington; Balgowan school, Dundee; St. John Bosco's school, Aberdour; and Dale school, Arbroath.

I have considered with great care the many responses to the consultative memorandum which have been submitted and the range of views contained in them; and my hon. Friend the Minister responsible for health and social work has visited all the four schools in question in the period since the memorandum was issued. I have concluded that I would be justified in withdrawing the certificate of approval from the four schools. I am required by statute to give six months' notice of my intention to withdraw my certificate of approval from any school and my Department will in any event be consulting the managers of the schools concerned on timing, with particular reference to arrangements for the children at present in the schools.

This decision implies no reflection on the quality of care and service which these schools have provided in the past, for which many young people have had cause to be grateful. It reflects rather the inevitable effects of demographic and other changes which the Government cannot realistically ignore.

I intend now to examine how the remaining list D schools might best be used within the range of the services available for child care and the demands likely to be made on the schools in the future.