§ 2.42 p.m.
Lord JANNERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to deal with the situation revealed by the television programme "Johnny Come Home".
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, the Working Group is considering the problems of homeless people and has almost completed its work. Meanwhile the Government have provided funds for a voluntary body's leaflet warning young people of the problems facing them if they come unprepared to London, and voluntary organisations which have planned information services at Euston and Victoria coach station have been invited to apply for a grant for that purpose.
Lord JANNERMy Lords, in view of the fact that this very serious matter was brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government and to the notice of everybody else in the country at the time the film was produced, and in view of the fact 118 that the producer of that film as recently as 9th April said, "We have achieved practically nothing and I think this is a very damning indictment of society", does not the noble Lord feel that it is important that something should be done at once? Does he feel that any red tape should be cut and, as soon as this report is published, immediate action should be taken to deal with this extremely serious problem?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, it is not possible in every situation to take immediate action. I do not know what my noble friend means when he says that the director of the film says that we have accomplished nothing. I do not know who "we" is. The Department of Health and Social Security certainly have accomplished a good deal. The Department set up a Working Party. Until we know what the problem is, the extent of it, and what can be done, we cannot put into operation the things that need to be done. We have the Working Party made up of representatives of NACRO, Child Health Care, Homeless, and they are considering the best possible thing that can be done. We have had negotiations with British Rail. As a good many Members of your Lordships' House will know, in a democracy it is not easy to get things done quickly when a number of points of view have to be taken into account.
§ The LORD BISHOP of LONDONMy Lords, is my noble friend the Minister aware that the readiness of Her Majesty's Government to provide funds for the West End Volunteer Co-ordinated Services, who are prepared to sponsor these information bureaux, will be greeted with great satisfaction? Will my noble friend also take note that, as reported in the article in The Times of 9th April, British Rail are making it very difficult for a bureau to be established at Euston Station? Will my noble friend bring as much pressure to bear as he can to ensure that British Rail co-operate in this vital piece of work?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I am obliged to the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of London for his comments and observations. In fact, we have had, and are still having, discussions with British Rail. We are hopeful of achieving 119 the kind of outcome we want. I should like to point out to your Lordships that the Government have printed 50,000 leaflets and about 7,000 posters which have been distributed and placed in strategic towns and areas from which young people are likely to come to London. These leaflets and posters set out the reasons why it would be unwise for them to come to London.
Lord JANNERMy Lords, does my noble friend the Minister realise that there is grave anxiety about this matter? As soon as the report is issued, will my noble friend take immediate steps? It is no good talking about Government reports and other reports which take years to be put into practice. This is a tremendously urgent matter. Will my noble friend see what can be done with regard to the decision recently given at a court, in which the very place in Piccadilly where the trouble is most imminent was given a licence for a further three years to carry on its activities? Is there no way in which some kind of action could be taken by either Parliament or the Government themselves to remedy such a situation?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, my noble friend Lord Janner is perfectly right. The permit was withdrawn, but it was restored on appeal to the courts and the courts restored the licence. If a court has decided so to do, I think we have to accept the decision of the courts in these matters, no matter how we may feel about it.
Lord JANNERMy Lords, with the greatest respect, while I appreciate the fact that once a court makes a decision we have to abide by it, may I suggest that it is surely the duty of Parliament—if a decision on a judicial matter is one that does not meet with the approval of the public—to ensure that some kind of action is taken in order to alter the law?
§ Baroness MACLEOD of BORVEMy Lords, can the noble Lord the Minister tells us when the Working Party is expected to report?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I cannot go beyond saying that the Working Party is very soon reviewing its discussions. I cannot say how soon that will be. As I have already mentioned, there is a 120 group of representatives of voluntary social work groups who are very well informed on these matters, and we hope it will report fairly soon to the Department, making recommendations as to how best to deal with this situation in the future. We are hopeful that the report will help very considerably.