HC Deb 23 February 1976 vol 906 cc46-7W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for supplementary benefit were made in each year from 1970 to 1975 in Great Britain, Scotland, Wales, England and each English regions; and if she will express each figures per 1,000 population.

Mr. Meacher

The information requested is as follows:

scheme for the recruitment of social workers from the United States of America; and how many persons are now planning to visit the United States of America in connection with this recruitment.

Mr. Meacher

The cost is estimated to be about £125 for each of the 19 or 20 social workers whom it is hoped to recruit this year. This is still, I understand, no greater than the average costs currently incurred by authorities in advertising posts in this country.

This estimate takes account of the expenditure arising from the visit planned to the United States by two members of the scheme's steering committee to interview prospective recruits.

Mr. Warren

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the response of the Association of Directors of Social Services and the local authority associations to her request to them to consider the full implications in the current economic and financial situation of recruiting social service workers from the USA.

Mr. Meacher

The local authority associations have indicated that they accept the need for prospective employing authorities to contain any further activity within current constraints on local authority expenditure and manpower. They also refer to the small number of social workers involved, to the critical shortage of trained staff and to the contribution which those recruited last year are making to the professional development of their authorities.