HC Deb 16 March 1971 vol 813 c279W
Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many fully qualified children's officers there were at the end of 1970; and how many there are expected to be by the end of 1972.

Sir K. Joseph

On 31st March, 1970, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,999 officers in the local authority child care services in England and Wales held a recognised professional qualification in social work.

By the end of 1972, the child care services will be integrated with other local authority social services and the number of child care officers will not be separately distinguishable. But it is estimated that, by that time, if a separate comparable figure were feasible, it would be of the order of 3,500.