§ 44. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health why he is unable to promise legislation in this Session to establish a national council for social work training, the urgent need for which has been accepted; and what new arrangements for training social workers in the health and welfare services he intends to make pending legislation.
§ Mr. PowellI am in consultation with my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Education, about the early provision of courses on the lines recommended in the Younghusband Report. These need not await the establishment of a National Council.
§ Mr. RobinsonI am very glad to have the information asked for in the second part of my Question, but the 761 Minister has not answered the first part. Is he aware that eighteen months have elapsed since this report was published? If he is not able to introduce legislation in the present Session, it will be another eighteen months before the council can be set up. Since the Mental Health Act cannot be implemented, so far as local authorities are concerned, until this council is set up, will he get a move on?
§ Mr. PowellI am anxious to get moving on this, but I do not believe that the fact that a council has not yet been established is delaying practical measures to get training going as widely as possible, but I am concentrating on both.