§ 49. Sir G. de Freitasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that there has recently been a reduction in the home help service in the Kettering area of Northamptonshire, in some cases from four hours to three hours and in others from three hours to two hours per week; and whether he will take steps to restore the service to its previous level.
§ Mr. AlisonI am informed that the number of home helps employed by Northamptonshire County Council has increased by 14 per cent. in the current 199W financial year, but owing to sudden large upsurge in demand the amount of help given to a small number of existing cases has had to be reduced slightly. Many more people are however now getting a service previously unavailable to them. Recruitment of additional staff is a matter for the council.