§ Lord Bassam of Brightonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How the Government intend to take forward consideration of the case for setting up a new court welfare service. [HL3249]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)Following the announcement on 16 February (Hansard, Commons, cols. 465) of a review of the scope for improving the effectiveness of the welfare services currently provided by several agencies in family proceedings through the creation of a new unified service, my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for the Home Department, Health and Wales and I are today publishing a consultation paper seeking wider views on these issues. Copies of the paper are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses, are being sent to a wide range of interested bodies and will be gladly sent to individuals on request. The closing date for responses is 13 November.