HC Deb 08 November 1979 vol 973 cc308-9W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the light of the fact that the number of pensioners will increase by over a million between 1970 and 1990, if he will consider making financial assistance available to evaluate further experimental schemes such as the Glaven caring scheme in rural Norfolk which revealed much useful information as to the harnessing of voluntary work in a community.

Sir George Young

I recognise the importance of finding ways to make fuller use of voluntary effort in helping elderly people and others in need of care and assistance. The Department will consider funding applications for research to evaluate promising schemes in this area, though the success of such applications will depend on their scientific and other merits.

The Department is not directly involved with the Glaven caring scheme, the evaluation of which is being financed by the social science research council.