HC Deb 17 June 1966 vol 729 cc342-3W
Mr. Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what negotiating machinery exists for fixing salary scales for child-care officers.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

The local authorities' National Joint Council for Administrative, Professional, Technical, and Clerical Services recommends a scale for child care officers.

Mr. Hogg

asked 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 Jenkins

The 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. Hogg

asked 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.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

I 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.