§ 3. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now call a series of national and regional round-table conferences with voluntary and professional organisations to discuss their rôle in the proposed reorganised health and social service structure.
§ The Secretary of State for Social Services (Mr. Richard Crossman)Comments and suggestions have been invited on the proposals made in the Green Paper on the future structure of the National Health Service and its co-ordination with local authority services and meetings will be arranged to discuss them.
§ Mr. JuddI thank my right hon. Friend for that very encouraging reply, but will he confirm that in his view many voluntary and professional organisations have a vital contribution to make to the future of our social services? Can he therefore state that high priority should always be given by the Government to the question of full consultation with them on matters affecting the future?
§ Mr. CrossmanI can say that, in preparing the Green Paper, I have consulted at length a whole variety of organisations. I should add that we have now reached the point where we should 885 rapidly finalise our decision, and I want to get the White Paper out before the end of the summer.