§ 28. Mr. Les Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations and consultations he has had on the implementations of the Barclay report on social services; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Newton:Although this is not a Government report, my Department invited comments from a number of organisations representing the key interests affected—the social work profession, the local authorities, the voluntary sector and social work education. The Department is now considering these comments but they are only initial views and discussion on the report continues widely. We have asked the National Institute for Social Work to monitor and report on this wider reaction. In the light of this and the initial views already received, we shall then decide what action falls to the Government to take.