HC Deb 06 March 1973 vol 852 cc61-2W
27. Mr. Norman Lamont

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on his Department's research into the cycle of deprivation.

Sir K. Joseph

My Department and the Social Science Research Council have set up a joint working party to explore the practicability of mounting a programme of research into the transmission of deprivation from one generation to another. It is also to give advice on how such a programme might be implemented. A number of other Departments are closely associated with the joint working party, which, I understand, hopes to make a report later this year.

50. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement about the state of his investigations into the cycle of deprivation and the remaining deficiencies in the social services which he has under study.

Sir K. Joseph

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Norman Lamont) in reply to his Question earlier today, my Department and the Social Science Research Council have set up a joint working party to explore the practicability of mounting a programme of research into the transmission of deprivation from one generation to another. It is also to give advice on how such a programme might be implemented. A number of other Departments are closely associated with the joint working party, which, I understand, hopes to make a report later this year.

As regards deficiencies in the social services, I am now receiving from local authorities 10-year plans for the development of these services. These plans will give us clearer assessments than have hitherto been available of the desirable and realistic rate and direction of development of the personal social services.

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