§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 13 March,Official Report, column 182, how many requests to conduct an inquiry under section 36 of the National Assistance Act 1948 he has received in each of the last 10 years; what action was taken in each case; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThis information is not available. Where representations are made to the Department which state or imply that a local authority has failed to comply with its statutory duties under welfare legislation. whether or not section 36 of the National Assistance Act 1948 is specifically referred to, appropriate inquiries are made. Since 1 January 1990, seven such representations have been received, each in respect of services for disabled people. Inquiries are continuing in these and some earlier cases; many have been resolved, either by a decision that there was no breach of statutory duty or by compliance on the part of the authority.