§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about progress towards implementing the proposals of the Committee on Child Health Services 1976 (Cmnd. 6684).
§ Mrs. CurrieCircular HC(78)5 advised authorities of the Government's conclusions on the recommendations of the Court committee and asked authorities to review services in the light of the Government's decisions. Subsequently, this Government reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the committee's findings in a debate in the other place on 28 October 1987, at columns 540–77. There has been considerable progress since the report was published, including two major projects; a departmental funded project studying the organisation and management of child health services in four health districts and a joint professional working party looking at822W the content and timing of these services. Both are expected to be completed in 1989. But, as everyone agreed in 1976, full implementation of the proposals would be achieved only in the longer rather than the shorter term. That remains the position.