asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why during his recent official visit to the London Borough of Newham the local Press were not given details; why there was a ban upon Press photographers; and whether he will now make a detailed statement giving particulars of the places visited, the persons he met and the matters discussed.

This was not a public occasion but one of a number of visits which I make from time to time to hospital and personal social service authorities to encourage informal exchange of views and to study the social services on the spot.