§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of current places on courses for the certificate of qualification in social work; and what information he has as to the proportion of such places utilised by persons who are not supported either by grants from his Department or through secondment by their employers.
§ Sir George YoungProvisional figures from the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work show that 3,760 students entered courses leading to the certificate of qualification in social work in the current academic year.
The latest information compiled by the council on the sources of student finance relates to the student intake in 1978–79. While this information is not complete, it suggests that about 48 per cent. of students were seconded by their employers, 20 per cent. received support from this Department, 18 per cent. from other Government Departments, and 12 per cent. from local education authorities; 2 per cent. were self-financed or came from overseas.