Health Visitors and Social Workers (Hansard, 11 December 1961)

§ 21. Dame Irene Ward
asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the Scottish practice for the training of health visitors and social workers, he will take steps to arrange for direct grants to be made from the Ministry of Education.

§ Mr. Powell
No, Sir.

§ Dame Irene Ward
Can my right hon. Friend state categorically which system he thinks is the best, bearing in mind that the Secretary of State for Scotland is in the Cabinet and has all the facts while the Minister of Health is not in the Cabinet and has limited horizons?

§ Mr. Powell
As I explained in the debate on Second Reading of the Health Visitors and Social Workers Training Bill, the arrangement which the Bill contemplates is in accordance with the general arrangements in England and Wales for grants for further education.

§ Lord Balniel
Perhaps my right hon. Friend will look at this matter again, for was it not a very strong recommendation of the Younghusband Report that grants should be paid? As apparently the practice is different in Scotland, is it not desirable to bring the two countries into line?

§ Mr. Powell
If so, that would go beyond the question of grants for social workers' training and would be a question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education.

§ Mr. Speaker
Question No. 25—Mr. Robinson.

§ Dame Irene Ward
On a point of order. May I know what happened to Question No. 22?

§ Mr. Speaker
It was answered, but the hon. Lady made no effort to rise.

§ Dame Irene Ward
On a point of order. When my noble Friend the Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel) rose to ask a supplementary question I sat down, but I did not hear you call Question No. 22, Sir.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Lady is under an illusion. Question No. 22 was answered with Question No. 4.