§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will advise local authorities which have seconded social workers for training on 677W condition that they serve with the authority for a further two years, that such a condition should be waived if the social worker wishes, on compassionate grounds, to transfer to another area;
(2) how many social workers are being asked to refund part of their training costs because they wish to transfer to another area on compassionate grounds, or wish to resign because of pregnancy.
§ Mr. DeakinsI regret that information about the number of social workers asked to refund a part of their training costs is not available. The conditions under which staff are seconded for training is a matter for the individual employing authorities, but I understand that they are normally prepared to waive such conditions on campassionate grounds.
§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State tor Social Services what advice he will issue to local authorities about the practice of directors of social services having informal agreements not to employ social workers who have left another authority without the agreement of that authority.
§ Mr. DeakinsI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to social workers, seconded for training at the expense of their local authority, who fail to meet
31st December 1970(1) 31st March 1976(2) Number of places/Children permitted (thousands) Number of places/Children per 1,000 population under 5 years Number of places/Children permitted (thousands) Number of places/Children per 1,000 population under 5 years Part-time Nursery Groups 2.4 0.6 3.3 1.0 Premises in which Sessional Care is provided 228.6 57.5 367.0 106.7 Notes:
(1) Figures are not available for 1971.
(2) These figures are the latest available and are provisional.
(3) All figures relate to England and Wales.
(4) Some registered childminders may provide playgroup activities.