§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work to begin its work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephMost of the members-designate of the proposed Council have already been nominated by organisations named in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Astor) on 18th December, 1970. The remaining members-designate, except a very few whose nomination must await the establishment of the nominating body, will be named shortly.
I expect the first meeting of the members-designate to take place in a few weeks' time and hope that, subject to their advice and to the completion of the constitutional procedures mentioned in my 269W previous reply, the Council will be able to assume its statutory functions in the early autumn. I am glad to be able to announce that Sir Derman Christopherson, O.B.E., F.R.S., Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, has agreed that he will be willing, in due course, to accept the appointment of Chairman of the proposed Council.—[Vol. 808, c. 503–5.]