§ 41. Mr. Eggarasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the liaison between his Department and local authorities in connection with the care of the elderly.
§ Mr. John PattenYes. My ministerial colleagues and I have regular meetings with chairmen of local authority social services committees and directors of social services at which current issues are reviewed. The Department consults as necessary the local authority associations on policy analysis and formulation, legislation, regulations and guidance, and the regional offices of the Department's social work service maintain contact with the staff of social services departments. Additionally, there are nominated local authority representatives on the research liaison groups which commission research related to the care of elderly people; and the conclusions and recommendations of this research are made widely available by way of seminars and publications sponsored by the Department.