§ 43. Mr. Wellbelovedasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the progress which is being made with the implementation of the recommendations of the Seebohm Committee's Report on naval welfare; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JuddSteady progress is being made. Priority is being given to the formation of a professionally staffed Social Service for the Navy and its families. The Head of the Naval Social Service will be appointed very shortly, and this will be followed by the recruitment of trained staff to work in naval port areas and in other places containing large numbers of naval families.
Existing staff will play a full part in the developing naval welfare services. The first Navy-sponsored candidates have been accepted for professional training courses in social work at the Portsmouth and Plymouth Polytechnics beginning in September next, and it is planned to make further placements in future years.