§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his policy on local co-ordination between local authority social services departments and health authorities.
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§ Mr. HayhoeHealth and local authorities are expected to collaborate closely on planning and operation of services of common concern to those authorities. This is essential to the cost-effective provision of a range of services to meet individual needs. A report of a working group set up jointly by the local authority associations, the National Association of Health Authorities and my Department to look for ways of improving collaboration was published recently and a meeting with representatives of the associations is arranged in January to discuss follow-up; a copy of that report is in the Library. Further guidance on joint planning and collaboration in the light of the recommendations of the joint working group will be published after consultations with health and local authority and other interests.