§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Eccles on 21 February, Official Report, column 495, he will explain the reasons for the increasing delay in laying the annual reports before Parliament required by sections 17(2) and 18(3) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if he will ensure that in future statements are laid no more than 12 months after the period to which they relate; and if he will snake a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret the delays, which were caused by late submission of returns from some health and local authorities and slow processing of the data once received in the Department due to pressure of work. The section 18 statements for 1981 and 1982 were laid on 13 March 1984. The section 17 statement for 1982 should be laid next month and both statements for 1983 by the autumn. In future, we are aiming to lay statements as near as possible to 12 months after the periods to which they relate.