§ 36. Lord Balnielasked the Minister of Health what increases are proposed during the period covered by the Health and Welfare Plan in the numbers of health visitors, home nurses and social workers employed by local authorities.
§ Mr. BarberLocal health and welfare authorities propose an increase between 16 1962 and 1972 of some 2,400 health visitors. 2,100 home nurses and 1,900 social workers, all whole-time equivalents.
§ Lord BalnielI welcome the increase in these very valuable services, but does my right hon. Friend expect that they will be adequate to meet the increased responsibilities falling on the professions? Further, can he say whether the Council for Training in Social Work will be reviewing its training facilities in the light of the figures which he has given?
§ Mr. BarberI am a little new to the job, but, from what I have seen so far, I should have thought it likely that more of these people would be required, and, of course, the arrangement made by my predecessor was that there would be revision from year to year. As regards training facilities, there are councils for the training of health visitors and for training in social work, and I have no doubt that both these bodies will bear in mind the increased demand which we expect.