HC Deb 03 March 1969 vol 779 cc12-3
7. Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many organisations and local authorities were requested to submit, and how many have submitted, their comments on the Seebohm Committee's proposals for the reorganisation of the social services; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Crossman

Last August, 61 organisations, including the local authority associations, were invited to send comments on the Seebohm Report by 30th November; and of these 56 responded with comments. In addition, 62 other organisations and individuals, including 11 local authorities, have responded to an open invitation to comment which was published in the Press.

As I told my hon. Friend in reply to his Question on 27th January, the Government are now giving these comments close and careful study.—[Vol. 776, c. 205–6.]

Mr. Judd

I thank my right hon. Friend for that helpful reply, but is he aware of the widespread anxiety among social workers about the future of the social services in Britain, especially in the areas of those local authorities in which professional empire-builders are already trying to jump the gun? Can he say when the Government will announce their future policy?

Mr. Crossman

I am aware of what my hon. Friend describes as jumping the gun, and we have strongly urged local authorities to await the Seebohm Report before making any organisational changes. I can say this about timing. I think that the Government will seek to make an interim statement about Seebohm as soon as we have access to the report of the Maud Commission. Clearly, no decision can be taken until after that Commission has reported.

Mr. Dean

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account the strong arguments which have been used against an administrative separation between health and welfare?

Mr. Crossman

This is one of the matters which we are discussing. I make one comment on that question: health and welfare stretch across the whole spectrum of human activity, and, unless we are to have one Ministry in Whitehall and one department in local government, there has to be a division somewhere.