HC Deb 28 January 1986 vol 90 cc489-90W
21. Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to increase the resources for social work training; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Whitney

We shall be taking into account the resources likely to be required when considering with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work and the other Government Departments and organisations affected, the proposals for qualifying training made by the council.

29. Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the existing system of social work training.

44. Dr. Godman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to improve social work training; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Whitney

Changes in the present arrangements for social work training have been proposed by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work which has statutory responsibility for promoting such training and approving its content. It is currently engaged in wide consultations on a proposal to combine the two main qualifications in social work and to extend the training period by a year to enable students to spend more time in supervised practice before qualification; and the resource implications are being examined. Appropriate training for staff already in post is also important: responsibility for meeting their needs rests with employers, who have a wide and regularly updated range of local and national training resources to draw on.

49. Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to implement the recommendation of the Jasmine Beckford inquiry report on social work training.

Mr. Whitney

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley) earlier today.