§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish the "Good Practice Guide" for the observation and assessment services for children and young persons referred to local authority social services departments, which was mentioned in his Department's background paper on observation and assessment—LA/C187/39—dated December 1978.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe proposal of the previous Administration to circulate a document on child guidance to local and health authorities has been dropped. It is the Government's policy to reduce the number of communications issuing from Government Departments to field authorities. I understand that some of the issues which such a document would have touched on are currently under discussion among the professions themselves. The material prepared will be available for use by my and other Departments as appropriate.