§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that Knowsley Borough Council has sufficient trained social workers to undertake its statutory duties.
§ Dr. OwenI am aware that, in common with certain other authorities, Knowsley Metropolitan Council has a number of unfilled posts for social workers and that this must affect the services which the Council is able to provide. It is for the council finally to determine its pattern of expenditure and deployment of staff, but the Government have indicated that, within the personal social services field, their view is that priority should be given at the present time to the maintenance of the effectiveness of the field and domicilary services, even though limited resources are available at a time when the demands for those services are likely to be increasing.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied that Knowsley Borough Council is fully meeting its statutory duties under the National Assistance Act 1948 and the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970;
(2) if he is satisfied that Knowsley Borough Council has sufficient resources, including those allocated by the central Government, to fulfil its statutory duties under the National Assistance Act 1948 and the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI am inquiring about the council's policy over provision for disabled people under these Acts and will write to my hon. Friend.
495WAs regards the resources allocated by central Government, the arrangements for distributing rate support grant, as discussed annually with the local authority associations, have been applied to Knowsley Council in the same way as to other local authorities. The council is, therefore, receiving its appropriate share of the needs element distribution.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of social workers employed by Knowsley Metropolitan Council; how many are qualified and how many unqualified; and how these figures compare with the national average.
§ Dr. OwenThe number of social workers, other than management and supervisory staff, employed by Knowsley Metropolitan Council on 30th September 1974, the latest date for which information on qualifications is available, was 57, of whom 19, or 33 per cent. were qualified. The corresponding percentage for England was 38.