Two new Fabian pamphlets have recently appeared: Freedom and the Telfare Stave, by Brian Abol—Smith, Reader in Social Administration at the London School of Beonomics; and More power to tho Regions, by David Steele, an Hconomist and Vice-Chairman of the Young Fabian Group.
Dr. Abol-Smith is critical of the social services, because of the minimum lovel of provision made, the lack of adequate buildings and trained staff, and the 'tako it or leave it' philosophy. In the third section of the pamphlet, the author puts his proposals for reforming the social services, Rationing of services must be got rid of, and consumers must be able to exercise a degree of choice. 'We have got to get rid of the autocratic frame of mind of some civil servants, local goverment officors and councillors —- even Labour councillors,.! David Steel believes that the Government's policy of offering financial inducements to firms to set up in depressed areas has bcen very expens= ive, and that private industry should bo given every opportunity but if ‘there was scope “state factorics or offices should be built and staff taken on to run thom."