§ 19. Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the number of social work staff, child care officers, family caseworkers, and other similar workers, employed by children's departments of each local authority on the last available date in 1968, giving the percentage of staff who are professionally qualified caseworkers, those with social science, and similar qualifications and those without appropriate relevant qualifications in 1968.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganIn England and Wales, 3,038 whole-time staff were so employed on 31st March last. Of these, 34.6 per cent. held a recognised professional qualification, a further 5.8 per cent. the Declaration of Recognition of Experience, and a further 19.5 per cent. a university degree, diploma or certificate in social science. I am sending details to my hon. Friend and placing a copy in the Library.
§ Mr. MoonmanI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that information. Would it be possible to examine the question of future trends in recruitment both with regard to the possibility of implementing the Seebohm Report and to seeing whether improvements can be made to encouraging recruitment in the service?
§ Mr. MorganI will bear in mind my hon. Friend's representations. However, I remind him that the total currently employed is 345 higher than it was last year.