Community Relations (Hansard, 4 December 1974)

§ Mr. Moyle

Some time ago it was announced that new arrangements would be made for the community relations and community development work carried on within Government up till now by the Department of Community Relations. After further consultations, my right hon. Friend has now decided that the Department of Community Relations should be amalgamated with the Department of Education.

All of the functions previously discharged by the Department of Community Relations will be undertaken by the amalgamated Department, with the exception of the "spruce-up" campaign, for which responsibility has already been transferred to the Department of the Environment. This amalgamation will secure a consistent and unified approach to the provision of sporting, recreational, youth and cultural facilities.

For the amalgamation of the two Departments an Order in Council will be required. Until this has been approved by Parliament they will continue to exist formally as separate entities, but during this interim period they will be the responsibility of a single Minister—myself —and the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education will be in charge of both Departments.

The forthcoming Order in Council will also make provision for the winding-up of the Community Relations Commission, as already announced. In the meantime I shall be discussing further with the various bodies and organisations concerned with community relations problems how best to ensure that desirable activities in this field—for example, research and publications—are carried on in an acceptable way, whether inside or outside Government.

I am convinced that district councils ought to be given a more positive role in the improvement of social and sporting life in their districts and in encouraging community activitiy. The new unified Department will therefore be working closely with and through district councils to secure the provision by them of sporting, recreational, cultural and community facilities and centres. I have in mind 505W also that it should now be the responsibility of councils to give advice to community associations in establishing themselves and to help them with their administrative expenses. These associations will also be able to look to other agencies of Government for advice and support in much of their work should they so wish—for example to the area health and social service boards in the broad field of social work and social welfare which remains the responsibility of these boards under the Department of Health and Social Services.

The detailed arrangements required to give effect to this new approach will have to be worked out in discussion with the various interests. I therefore intend to hold a series of meetings with them, to ensure not only that district councils will be in a position effectively to discharge their new role within the general responsibility which they already have, for social and recreational provision within their districts, but that all the agencies involved, statutory or voluntary, co-operate closely together to achieve their common aim of improving social facilities and social conditions. To this end, co-ordinating machinery will be established between the Department of Education and the DHSS. I shall also consider what other arrangements may be desirable, within Government or elsewhere, to assist these processes and bring the necessary resources to bear.