§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what has been the cost of employing temporary workers during the present residential care workers' dispute;
(2) how many people have been taken on temporarily during the residential care workers' dispute.
§ Mr. John PattenThis information is not held centrally.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the normal qualifications required of residential care workers;
(2) what qualifications are required of staff temporarily employed to work in residential care during the present residential care workers' dispute.
§ Mr. John PattenThe qualifications required for either temporary or permanent staff of residential homes are entirely a matter for the local authorities who employ them. It has recently been estimated that some 20 per cent. of the staff of residential homes hold relevant qualifications. These include the certificate of qualification in social work and the certificate in social services.