HC Deb 07 February 1980 vol 978 cc322-3W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to his reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 24 January, he will publish in the Official Report the points raised with him in correspondence concerning the abolition of the Personal Social Services Council and the reply he gave to each.

Sir George Young

No. It would not be appropriate to publish such correspondence in theOfficial Report. The circumstances concerning the Personal Social Services Council were set out in my right hon. Friend's announcement on 5 December 1979 in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Waver tree (Mr. Steen)—[Vol. 975, c. 255–6]—and replies to the matters raised by correspondents have referred to the points made in that announcement.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to the reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, on 24 January, he is satisfied that all the urgent areas of research planned by the Personal Social Services Council will be pursued, after its abolition, with the same expertise which the council itself possesses.

Sir George Young

The council's consultations about arrangements for taking some of its activities forward are continuing, and the Department remains in close touch with them. I am sure that no other organisation would take responsibility for any of the work concerned, unless satisfied that it could be successfully undertaken.