§ Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what negotiating machinery exists for fixing salary scales for child-care officers.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe local authorities' National Joint Council for Administrative, Professional, Technical, and Clerical Services recommends a scale for child care officers.
§ Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will specify the nature of qualification necessary for a child-care officer and the scales of remuneration for those qualified and unqualified, respectively.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe qualification generally regarded as appropriate is the Letter of Recognition awarded by the Central Training Council in Child Care to students who complete a course of training approved by the Council. Possession of this qualification is not, however, a necessary condition of employment. The scale recommended by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Administrative, Professional, Technical, and Clerical Staffs is £750–£1,170 (excluding London weighting), with the proviso that officers not possessing the Letter of Recognition should not, with certain exceptions, proceed beyond £1,090. The point of entry to the scale is determined by the employing authority. The scale is the subject of an agreement due to expire on 31st July 1966 and I understand that a new agreement is being negotiated.
§ Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the number of child-care officer posts on establishment, the number of officers in post, and the percentage of these qualified; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the past five years.
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§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI regret that figures for years before 1963 are not available. For 1963–1965, the information is as follows:
LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES CHILD CARE OFFICERS Authorised establishment 1,713 2,037 2,376 Staff in post: Professionally qualified* 422 (27.2%) 503 (28.4%) 612 (30.4%) Others with a degree or diploma in social science 509 563 571 Others 618 707 827 Total staff in post 1,549 1,773 2,010 * Holding the Letter of Recognition of the Central Training Council in Child Care.