§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the numbers of people who will require training in(a) the Health Service and (b) the voluntary sector as the Children Act is implemented and what resources he will supply to assist with such training.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyFrom information held centrally is is not possible to identify the numbers of health services staff whose duties will be affected by the Children Act. Information on staff of voluntary organisations is not held centrally.
369WAs part of the Department's phased programme of awareness and specialist training for local authority and other agency staff, the Department launched on 1 December 1989 "An Introduction to the Children Act". The guide will be of use to all social services staff and other practitioners who will be concerned with implementation of the Children Act. Copies of the guide have been sent to local authorities, and the National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisations for them to distribute to their members, regional health authorities, district health authorities, royal colleges and other relevant agencies. A dissemination and training strategy for implementation of the Children Act is being developed in consultation with the statutory and voluntary agencies.