§ Sir Peter Emeryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Honiton of 27 March, Official Report, column 559, concerning child care workers, he will state what he means by the statement that consultations on the implementation of the recommendations are at an advanced stage; and if he can yet give a date for the regulations to be introduced.
§ Mr. WhitneyA draft local authority circular was issued for consultation on 18 December 1985. Comments have been received from a wide range of interested parties and it is hoped to issue the circular, revised to take account of the comments received, within the next few weeks.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to how many senior staff in each local authority social services department are engaged (i) full-time, and (ii) part-time on supervision of 80W staff dealing with child abuse cases, and how this compares in each case with central guidelines for staff supervision ratios.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Department does not collect data relating to the number of people engaged on supervision of staff dealing with child abuse cases. We have no plans to issue guidance on staffing ratios in child abuse work, as this is a matter to be decided by each local authority according to local needs and circumstances.