The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 3

HOME NEWS THE GUARDIAN Saturday July 27 1985 3 councils Social workers denounce IE wholly negative about. I was PO plans 100m computer network Sarah Boseley reports on the rift between social workers and local authorities as Mr Ted Knight (right), leader of Lambeth council, tries to resolve a strike by staff protesting over disciplinary action after the Tyra Henry case By Michael Smith, Industrial Editor The Post Office is poised to launch a- 100 million investment programme to bring automation to branch counters. Detailed plans are with the minister for technology, Mr Geoffrey Pattie, and seem like ly to be approved shortly after the holiday season. The Post Office will start by computerising the counter services at 250 branches in one region over the next two years It is expected that the prosperous Thames Valley region will be selected to start the service. Automation of the counter network will allow the Post Office to computerise all its existing services and to undertake similar financial services for other organisations.

Talks have already been held with building societies and insurance companies who would use the network to market their own services. The Post Office plans to automate at least 6.000 its 21.000 branches by the earlv 1990s. The plan involves full automation of all 1.500 main post offices and at least 4.500 NEARLY 600 social workers and support staff in the London borough of Lambeth walked out yesterday in protest against the council proceedings with disciplinary action before an external independent inquiry into the case of Tyra Henry. The walk-out came as the British Association of Social Workers claimed that staff nationally were being prevented from doing their jobs by increasingly politicised local councillors who refuse to accept professional judgments. The.

tensions in Lambeth have come to a head over the case of Tyra. the 21-month-old girl whose father was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday. Officials of the Lambeth social workers' union. Nalgo. were holding urgent discussions with the council's leader.

Mr TedKn ight. The strike, expectedto last untilMonday nd ght. followed votes by social workers at all eight area offices in the borough. As spokeswoman for the union said that emergency cover would be maintained. According to BASW and senior social services staff, the series of protests in Lambeth is only the most acute example of something which is happening all over the country, particularly in authorities controlled by the extreme left and more subtly in those dominated by the extreme-right.

The Widdicombe inquiry into local government, set up by the Environment Secretary, Mr Patrick Jenkin, is looking at this increasing po-liticisation as one of its terms of reference and is particularly interested in the appointment of chief officers for political reasons. The fears of social services staff have already been expressed to the inquiry in evidence from the Association of Directors of Social Services. BASW has now decided to publicise the stresses its members are under. Mr John Wheeler, until recently BASW's chairman in Southwark, Lambeth always a bit suspicious of the political concensus and I think professionals do need to be challenged on what are appropriate values;" Mr Peter Riches, national chairman of BASW, said There's, been growing concern for five years or so. In a sense it's a fairly natural phenomenon with the increase in politicisation of local government.

Factions are now far more prominent. Ten to 15 years ago, welfare work had a fairly low profile but now it is far more important politically. The chair of social services is now being fought over." A significant number of the younger, and ambitious breed of Labour, councillor have some knowledge of social work. Mr Patrick Kodikara, until recently chairman of Hackney social services committee, is director of Camden social services. Mr Wheeler, who has been deeply involved in Lambeth's troubles, feels that drastic measures are.

called for. He said: "I think there would be a case for the social services inspectorate to come in." He admits that this would be a desperation measure. In the long term, he says, he would like to see 'professional training for councillors, as there is. for juvenile court magistrates. "They will consider that to be terribly arrogant, but some awareness of your own motivation is important." Mr Riches said: "My feeling is that they should be talking to the staff much more.

and trying to each other's perspective. It is crucial to do that rather than destroy staff morale by making public statements." Maybe this is already beginning to be appreciated in Lambeth. At the council's press' conference, after the Tyra Henry trial, Councillor Stephen Bubb did his utmost to play down the tensions. GAOL SALE A cell at Littledean Gaol in the Forest of Dean (above), which Gloucestershire County Council is selling. The grade II listed building set in 1.75 acres was built in 1791 as a house of correction.

It includes 10 cells, a central block, court room and gatehouse. (Below) some of its keys. Pictures by Michael Charity her father, councillors reacted immediately. An inquiry by a panel of four staff, to of them race advisers, was set up and reported within two weeks. Social workers felt that it was less than compassionate towards them.

Mr Wheeler said: "It was akin to a show trial in Eastern Europe. People were dragged forward and hectored and shouted at." The social services director, then held a longer and fuller inquiry, said to be full of theory, and hindsight, which pleased nobody least of all the councillors. On the basis of the second report however, Councillor Stephen Bubb, vice-chairman of the social services committee when Tyra died, said on Thursday that disciplinary action would be taken against three social workers. In April the bad feeling among the staff was vented in a meeting of over half the department, attended by the social workers and other staff, at which, a vote of no confidence was passed in Mrs Boateng and Mr Bubb. Mr Wheeler sees the origins of conflict in a power struggle.

He said One of the reasons is that councillors tend to see social workers as the most stroppy, uncontrollable members of their workforce. I've heard it said that 'the trouble with social workers is that they're some kind of professional and Wandsworth, said Our members and the majority of social workers in Lambeth cannot go on any longer." He and others in Lambeth had left, and more were planning to, because they could no longer work against the opposition of councillors, he said. Relations have deteriorated, he believes, over the past three years until they are nothing short of poisonous." Sub-committee meetings to discuss the action to be taken in particular cases have become platforms for abusing social workers and some councillors have scorned staff recommendations on the grounds that they, as elected representatives, know more about the needs of the community. Some of the polarisations, social services staff say, has developed over racial questions. Black councillors feel that they are far more in touch with the black community.

They distrust social workers who make decisions according to guidelines and theories. The chairman of Lambeth social services committee, Mrs Janet Boateng, has been quoted as saying: "A lot of us are more in touch with communities than the social worker. We know what the problems are." When Tyra died last September, after her mother had flouted the terms of Lambeth council's care order and taken the child to live with "There was a certain amount of truth in that in the past. Professional loyalty had to be considered. But most social workers don't take that view any more." Committee meetings turn into a fight about who knows best, he said, and the social worker's view is not given a hearing at all.

It's cavalierly dismissed. It's like preparing for a battle every time you go into a sub-committee meeting. You're likely to get howled down and abused." Similar friction, although as yet less public, is taking place in the. left-wing London boroughs of Camden, Hackney and Southwark. But, according to one social services director, right-wing councils are just as prone not to.

listen- to professional advice and to make political appointments to the paid staff. East Sussex, Hammersmith and Fulham and Mer-ton were' given as examples. In Liverpool, there was a. major split over the issue of access to social services files by the clients. The same happened in Lambeth.

In Camden, councillor generally regarded as fairly hard-line left wing on the social services committee have had to take a reactionary stance when their social workers went on strike over the suspension of some staff pending disciplinary measures. But not all staff think that the dissent is a bad thing. One senior officer It's not necessarily some- sub-offices, though this figure may grow i the Post Officp can persuade sub-postmasters to contribute to the investment programme. The cost of bringing automa tion, to about a third of the branch network could reach 1 billion over a decade. There will be a fierce battle among computer nrms to cuncn the contracts.

Meanwhile, the Post Office has disclosed record profits of 144.5 million for he past year, an increase of 20 mil lion on 1983-84. The postal op erations generated their ninth successive profit of 133.7 mil lion, while National Girobank made 10.8 MPs want secretarial allowances doubled This advertisement is published by Debenhams PLC, whose directors (including those who have delegated detailed supervision of this advertisement) have aken all reasonable care to ensure that the facts stated and opinions expressed herein are fair and accurate and each of the directors accepts responsibility accordingly. NHS is blamed for late abortions retary and a research assistant for each mf. Mr Clive Soley, the Labour MP for Hammersmith, who 1 1 1 was on the delegation, said By Colin Brown Political Reporter A group of Labour and Tory MPs has asked for increases of nearly 100 per cent in secretarial allowances in an informal approach to the Leader of the Commons, Mr. John Biffen.

The Tories included- Mr Michael Brown, MP for Brigg and Cleethorpes, who was among the 48 Tory rebels who yesterday: "I think there is an awareness that we weren't asking about our salaries, we were talking about research By Andrew Veitch, Medical Correspondent and secretarial facilities, and that does make a difference. Obviously, what happened the Reducing the time limit for abortions from 28 to 24 weeks other night is very much in the air, but it did not affect voted against the Government the day before on the pay without improving health ser the discussion at all." vices would be disastrous for rises for judges, generals, and The MPs, with the support of the SDP-Liberal Alliance top civil servants. the few women affected, fam MnBaBiBBBBnMBaanBaiHnMMBnBaaDaaanMDiBiiBa parties and 200 members who signed a Commons motion. He was accompanied by three Labour MPs. including ily planning organisations and women's health groups warned urged Mr Biffen to bring for yesterday.

ward the report on secretarial Mr Jack Dormand, chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, who that night was also allowances. Mr Biffen told the backbenchers that the last Top Sal trying to damp down a Labour In a letter to the Health Minister, Mr Kenneth Clarke, the Co-ordinating Committee in backbench row over the failure Mr. Halpern and Sir Terence Conran, the two self-styled stars in the High Street, like to speak for themselves. The facts speak for the team at Debenhams. aries Review Board reDort on of 17 MPs to vote against the Government.

Defence of the Abortion Act, said more than half the num the allowances, though started in 1H82. was aereed by tne The group who saw Mr ber of late abortions were due to hospital delays. The remedy to this was improved access to earlv. safe treatment and bet House only 12 months ago and it was too soon to ho through the process again. The MPs intend to continue pressing for action after the summer Biffen told him about the plight of MPs who were having to pay out of their own pockets for research assistants and computers which are now part of the trappings of every ter education about birth control.

recess. The House rose yester The committee includes the day and will return on October day life for modern MPs. Family Planning Association, abortion charities, doctors, and 21. Thev wanted another OUR RECORD PROFIT GROWTH FORECAST APPROXIMATELY60m Plowden report on secretarial religious and political groups. 9 The Government is facing a revolt in the Lords over the decision to push ahead with They are organsing against nig pay rises for senior civil recommendation irom nve leading medical organisations, including the British Medical allowances, due for review next year.

The review should be brought forward they say. The allowances should be raised from the present 13,200 to about 25,000 about servants, armed forces officers, DEBENHAMS FORECAST 45-2 ana judges, but ministers do not expect such a big revolt as Association and the Koyai college of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), that the upper limit for terminations be reduced from 28 to 24 weeks. Mr Clarke is giving the 5,000 for the cost of new technological aids such as computers, and the rest for the employment of a full-time sec mat in tne commons. The Lords will rise for the summer holidays on Wednesday and return on October 14. PROFIT BEFORE TAX (m) 37-5 recommendation urgent consideration" and is known per BURTON FORECAST 32-9 32-2 sonally to favour the lower limn.

The most likely step would be to change the 1929 Infant CND will challenge phone taps Life Preservation Act wnicn forbids the destruction of the mmmom life of a child capable of beinj born alive, which is after 21 weeks. The latest full-year figures show that 238 of the 127,375 abortions in england and By Paul Brown 4 The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament was yesterday Wales in 1983 were performed at 24 weeks or later. They included 19 girls under 16, and 83 aged The RCOG IllllsllillP 19-60 given permission ay a Hign Greenham murderer gets life A 37-year-old sales representative was gaoled for life yesterday for the murder of tiie Greenham Common peace woman, Deirdre Sainsbury. During the three-day trial at Reading Crown Court, Colin Campbell had admitted that he killed Miss Sainsbury, the daughter of a leading psychiatrist, on December 22 last year after giving her a lift In his car. But Campbell, an epileptic, had claimed that he was provoked after she rejected his advances when they stopped for a cuddle in a quiet country (ane.

The jury took just over two hours tio find him euiltv of Court nudge to challenge tele phone tapping of its found in a report last year I HHHS 11 If A leadership. CND is seeking orders pre venting the Home Secretary giving permission to tap CND telephone calls and from 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1982-84 1982-85 1983-85 1983-86 'Compound growth per annum based on the threeyear period from February 1982 for Debenhams and Septemberl981 forBurton. renewing any permission already given. It is also seeking a declaration that Mr Leon Bnttan's decision to allow the telephone tapping of their vice-president, Mr John Cox, was unlawful. Debenhams' profit before taxhas doubled since 1982-3 arid will have trebled by 1986 on the basis of theforecast of approximately 60m.

for the currentyear. Trading is continuing well with profits for the year to date substantially ahead of the results for the same period Iastyear. Debenhams' growth in earningsper share has beaten, Burton's hands down over thepast3 years. On the basis of Burton's looks evenbettenlnfact, some40o better over the 4 year period. Mr Justice Forbes said yes terday that there was an arguable point of law, adding that this was not a comment on the case's merits.

murder. As the foreman announced the unanimous verdict Campbell appeared unsteady on his feet and had to be assisted to his seat in the dock. Mr Justice Jones told Campbell I have no doubt it is a verdict which has not taken The tannine of Mr Cox's telephone came to light when that many ot them aid not realise that they were pregnant, or were terrified of telling their parents. Malformed babies accounted for another 54 of the very late abortions. Although new screening techniques mean that many abnormalities, with the exception of spina bifida, can be diagnosed in the first three months, the need for confirmatory tests means that some cannot be diagnosed until 24 weeks or later.

Professor Eva Alberman of The London Hospital has shown that a 24-week limit, had it been imposed in 1982, would have meant that 26 abortions on babies suffering severe handicaps could not have been carried out. Another 12 abortions were performed to save the mother's life. Just over 1,500 abortions were performed between 20 and 23 weeks in 1983 more than 600 mothers were teenagers and in 281 cases the babies were seriously malformed. The vast majority 1.143 were performed for the physical or mental health of the mothers. In 10 cases, the mother's life was threatened.

Yet nearly half the premature babies born at 24-27 weeks do survive for at least a month if they are in well-equipped intensive care units. But these units are overloaded. Mr.HaIp era and SirTerence speak for themselves. an ex-MI5 officer, Cathy Massiter, referred to it on a Channel 4 television programme. At the full hearing CND will you by surprise in any way at all." The murder was unprovoked, said the judge.

"It was a brutal, pointless murder," he told Campbell, of Beresford Avenue, Hanwell, west London. As Mr Justice contend that the tannine had been done for party political reasons. The facts speak US I C3 A Mr Stephen Grosz, solicitor for CND, said the Treasury so licitor would have to explain why Mr Cox's phone was Jones pronounced a life sentence Campbell fainted and was taken unconscious to the poliqe cells. The body of Miss Sainsbury, aged 29, was found naked and mutilated at Denham golf course, Buckinghamshire. She had been strangled by Campbell after being punched and tapped.

No date was set for the full hearing. CND is also appealing to the European Court of Human Rights on other alleged Government infringements of its beaten about the head with a hockey stick. members' civil liberties..