§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in view of the special techniques of cost benefit analysis needed to assess the value of various types of social service and of the shortage of such personnel, he will consider provision of extra grants to local authorities who employ specialists from university departments, or other organisations, to produce definitive reports about the needs of the disabled and aged; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if, in line with his Department's ten-year plan, he will consider giving extra grants to local authorities to carry out surveys similar to Newcastle-upon-Tyne's employment of the Department of 180W Social Administration at the University of Birmingham, and Leicester's employment of P.A. Consultants Limited to make an evaluation of future social services expenditure; if he will give priority to such expenditure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephThe manner in which a local authority carries out surveys of social need and evaluates its social services is for the authority to determine. I have no power to make extra grants to local authorities for these purposes.