§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what his proposals are for the status of the health visitors within the reorganisation of local government.
§ Sir K. JosephI think I should await the recommendations of the Briggs Committee on nursing before coming to any firm conclusions. However, I envisage that, following the reorganisation of local government, the National Health Service staff working in the domiciliary preventive health services will provide one of the essential linkages between the new health authorities and the social services departments of local authorities.