§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the likely impact on the service provided by DHSS of the proposed cut-backs in departmental expenditure.
§ Mr. DeakinsMy Department provides a direct service to the public mainly through its social security administration. The ways in which cut-backs in expenditure will be made are still under consideration. Our general principle is that as far as possible savings should be made by simplification of the social security system rather than by reductions in the service provided by local offices.