§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to the Social Services Inspectorate concerning the role of inspected social services departments assisting service users and carers in completing questionnaires distributed as part of a Social Services Inspectorate inspection. [74434]
§ Jacqui SmithNo guidance has been given to the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) on this topic. SSI is committed to obtaining the views of service users as part of its assessment of social services functions. SSI has advised inspected authorities that they should offer independent help to users and carers when they are completing questionnaires as part of an inspection, particularly for those people who may have difficulties completing a questionnaire.