THE County Social Services' is in debt to the tune of some £4.6m pounds and many have questioned why the debt was allowed to grow so large before taking action.

Evidently, Health Minister John Hutton, whose remit is also Social Services, has indicated that he might support a bail-out which would at least ease the pain of some Social Services' vulnerable clients.

I also understand that Tony Blair supports the amalgamation of the Social Services budget with that of health for elderly people.

It is known that some people in health hope to move towards this end. This is a proposed policy decision not universally supported in the profession or in the British Association of Social Workers nor possibly by patients/clients themselves if the full implications of such an amalgamation were debated in public.

WENDY HANDS,

Upton upon Severn,

Worcestershire.