§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, with a view to legislation, he will set up a departmental inquiry into the incidence of wife battering, the nature and amounts of help required by these wives and the nature and extent of help they are at present receiving;
(2) if he will circularise all local authorities advising them, in view of the extent of the problem, to give priority in 184W temporary accommodation to battered wives, and their children, who wish to leave their husbands.
§ Sir K. JosephIn my view sufficient information to enable me to consider the possible need for guidance to local authorities can be gathered without setting up a departmental inquiry.