Top inspector defends review

The head of the Social Services Inspectorate said the
insepection review was a genuine consultation.

‘Ministers quite deliberately wanted the document to set out the
issues rather than put forward proposals,’ Herbert Laming told
delegates. He admitted there were anomalies in the current
regulatory system, but added it was hardly surprising, as the
system had grown up incrementally.’The result is, to some extent, a
patchwork of different regulatory systems which inevitably leaves
gaps in coverage.’ He added that ‘the current division of
responsibilities for regulation and inspection, ranging between the
Secretary of State and local authorities and others, may be less
than ideal’.