§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure a quicker "feedback" from the reports of the Health Advisory Service.
§ Mr. EnnalsArrangements have recently been announced for giving the Health Advisory Service a more active role in following up its reports. This change is intended, among other things, to speed up the process of following-up action taken by the appropriate authorities on the advice of the HAS.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is saitsfied that the Health Advisory Service is cost-effective; and upon what factors he basess his view.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe functions of the Health Advisory Service are to encourage and disseminate good practice, new ideas and constructive attitudes and relationships and to act as a catalyst to stimulate local solutions to local problems and also to advise the Secretary of State for Social Services about the conditions of the services which they visit in England. I am satisfied that since its establishment the Health Advisory Service has been a most successful mechanism for carrying out these functions.
§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will appoint a statistician to the staff of the Health Advisory Service.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo. The Director of the Health Advisory Service is responsible for the appointment of the professional staff of the HAS within an agreed establishment ceiling.