§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions his Department has had with local authority associations on the training of specialist workers with visually handicapped people;
(2) what progress has been made to remedy the deficiency in training of workers with blind and visually handicapped people, identified in paragraph 181 of the social services inspectorate report, "A Wider Vision".
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Department has not discussed this subject specifically with the local authority associations. Following the publication of "A Wider Vision", the social services inspectorate organised a number of seminars aimed at senior managers in social services departments and involving national voluntary 729W organisations, covering a wide range of issues arising from the report. Discussions are in progress with the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work and others to consider how developments in social work education can incorporate the training needs of staff working with people in visual handicap.