§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it was decided to extend the inquiry into the case of Mrs. V. Palfrey against the advice of his Department's solicitors as stated in paragraph 12 of the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiAs in all such cases, it was seen as essential that both the Department and the local authority concerned should be fully aware of the facts of the case and their implications.
§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is taking steps to improve his Department's procedures for dealing with inquiries under section 36 of the National Assistance Act 1948 following 175W the criticisms in the report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in the case of Mrs. V. Palfrey; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiNo. Such criticism as there was in the Parliamentary Commissioner's report concerned the application of the procedures at a time of exceptional pressure. Those circumstances no longer exist. The procedures themselves were not called into question.