HL Deb 25 January 1989 vol 503 cc698-9

2.52 p.m.

Lord Mottistone asked Her Majesty's Government:

When an inquiry by the Social Services Inspectorate into the present state of social work services for mentally ill people in the London boroughs of Bexley and Lewisham can be expected following the report on the care and aftercare of Miss Sharon Campbell.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, the Social Services Inspectorate is in discussion with the London boroughs of Bexley and Lewisham specifically about their responses to the Spokes Report.

Lord Mottistone

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Can he give any idea when this inquiry may start? It seems some time since the report on Miss Sharon Campbell was made.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, as part of its joint work with the Health Advisory Service, a visit focused on services for mentally ill people is currently taking place in Bexley and a similar exercise is planned for Lewisham later this year.

Lord Winstanley

My Lords, can the noble Lord inform the House of the extent to which the London boroughs of Bexley and Lewisham have already carried out the recommendations of Mr. Spokes's report to which reference was made in the Question?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, if the noble Lord is referring to disciplinary action, with regard to the London borough of Bexley, two members of staff criticised in the Spokes Report have both left the authority. With regard to Lewisham, the case worker criticised in the report no longer works for the authority.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, bearing in mind that the inquiry of Mr. John Spokes dealt with the urgency of improving the quality of community care, on which Sir Roy Griffiths has made important recommendations, is it not now a very serious matter that the Government are still refusing to give any lead either to the authorities or to the public on this patently serious and sometimes tragic issue? Will the Minister give an assurance that at least by the time the presentation is made on Tuesday there will be a Statement about the Griffiths Report?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, we are very conscious of public feeling that our response should not be too long delayed with regard to the Griffiths Report. We hope to put forward our own proposals in the near—and I emphasise the word "near"—future.

Lord Campbell of Alloway

My Lords, in the light of recent history does the Minister agree that the Secretary of State should keep the social work services under constant review?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I do, and we are.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, bearing in mind that an element in these tragic cases is the over-heavy work load of social workers, can the Minister tell us what steps the Government are taking to monitor the staffing levels of social services departments—in particular in London where one sees that they are inadequate in line with their resources—and to ensure that further resources are made available to them?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, with regard to the specific recommendations of the report, we have provided an additional £1 million in the present financial year towards a balanced programme of improvements to training.

Baroness Seear

My Lords, will the Minister explain to us what he means by keeping the social workers "under constant review"? It is one of those bland phrases that we constantly hear. What on earth does it mean? There are thousands of social workers. What is the Secretary of State going to do?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, as I am sure the noble Baroness is well aware, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State keeps all matters concerned with health under review.