§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what reports he has received about the adverse performance of any regional social work departments; and whether they are publicly available.
§ Mr. LangThe only reports received on the performance of regional social work departments are those of investigations carried out by staff and requested by authorities themselves. They are confidential to the local authority concerned.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources he has to monitor performance levels and standards of care in regional social work departments.
§ Mr. LangI have the services of 21 professional staff in the Scottish Office's social work services group for such advice on aspects of regional social work departments' performance as is required.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers he has to intervene in the operations of a regional social work department.
§ Mr. LangMy right hon. and learned Friend has powers in the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to make regulations governing the performance of local authorities' functions under that Act and for certain other purposes. In terms of section 5 of that Act local authorities are required to operate under his general guidance, and, finally, he has default powers under section 211 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 where a local authority fails to carry out its statutory functions.