§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he yet has proposals to reorganise the four voluntary organisations dealing with the problems of alcoholism.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Government have already indicated their willingness to help and encourage a reorganisation of these organisations following the NCVO-DHSS study of their work. The four organisations have now accepted my offer to appoint an independent chairman and to provide a secretary from the Department's staff for a small steering group, on which each of them will be represented by two of their members. I have expressed the hope that, within three months of its appointment, the290W group will be able to advise on how a new organisation could be formed to carry out the functions I have offered to support.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that academics researching into alcoholism are able to maintain their links with voluntary organisations dealing with the problem of alcoholism regardless of his proposals for any changes in the structure of such organizations.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkePeople who research into alcoholism would normally establish their own links with voluntary organisations if they wished to. I would not expect this practice to be affected by any changes I am encouraging in the structure of national voluntary organisations.