§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue guidance to local authority social services departments concerning charity appeals to fund social services which they are providing; if he will advise them to take into account, in planning such appeals, their possible effect on fund raising by local voluntary organisations; and if he will take steps to ascertain how many local authority social services departments have already or are planning to launch such appeals.
§ Mr. NewtonMinisters have frequently emphasised the importance of a working partnership between local authority social services departments and voluntary organisations, and I do not think further guidance is needed in the particular context of charitable fund-raising. I am currently aware of two local authorities that have decided to encourage donations for social services projects; I understand that in both cases their plans are aimed at assisting both the statutory and the voluntary sectors.