§ 40. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish a White Paper detailing social statistics such as suicide, illegitimacy, children in care, venereal disease, divorce and crime rates in the principal urban areas of England and Wales.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe Central Statistical Office is preparing a new regular publication on social statistics to be published under the title "Social Trends" which will cover the topics mentioned by my hon. Friend. I regret that comprehensive statistics of this nature for individual urban areas are not available.
§ Mr. JuddWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that encouraging reply, will he not agree that meaningful planning by national, local and regional authorities necessitates the availability of social statistics of this type in detail, as well as 32 the economic statistics at the disposal of the D.E.A.?
§ Mr. EnnalsYes, but to do an overall survey would be costly in terms of both money and staff time. However, if my hon. Friend has a particular request to make, I will endeavour to supply him with the information.