Mr. Alan Williamsasked the Minister of Health (1) what minimum qualifications are laid down for welfare officers; and if he is satisfied that they are adequate;
(2) how many local government officials in Wales who have full or partial responsibility for welfare work have never received any formal specialist training in welfare work.
§ Mr. LoughlinI assume my hon Friend has in mind officers doing welfare work with the elderly or physically or mentally handicapped. No qualifications are laid down at present, and the number without any formal training is therefore not known; but the number of trained staff is known to be increasing.