§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list the numbers and titles of directives issued by circular from her Department since March 1974 involving local authorities in expenditure.
§ Dr. OwenThe Department has only very limited powers to issue directions to local authorities: the majority of Department of Health and Social Security circulars contain advice and guidance. The only circular containing directions with expenditure implications for local authorities issued since March 1974 was Local Authority Circular 19/74—dated 23rd April 1974—which renewed without significant alteration directions first given in 1959 relating to the provision by local authorities of community services for the mentally disordered.