Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (Hansard, 24 July 1997)

§ Mr. Boateng

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July, c. 599]: Three contextual matters for the review of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work should be included. A full text of my announcement including these three matters is as follows:

The Department, in collaboration with the Scottish Office, Welsh Office and Department of Health and Social Services Northern Ireland, will conduct a thorough review of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. The review, which is now due as part of the regular five-yearly examination of non-departmental public bodies, will take the form of a prior options study. It will assess the extent to which the functions of the council are necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies and consider, with particular regard to the importance of securing the best value for money, the scope for rationalisation, privatisation, contracting out, market testing or transferring all, or part, of its functions to another body. We will consult widely with all parties who have an interest in the work of the council.

The review will have regard to and take account of:

the implications of the Government's National Training Organisation initiative for the personal social services sector;
the recommendations of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education—the Dearing Report;
the Government's plans for the training of probation officers;
the Government's proposals for devolution in Scotland and Wales, and
the Government's intention to establish a General Social Services Council.

To minimise uncertainty, we expect this fundamental review to be completed by the end of October. Throughout, the Government's objective remains to ensure that quality services are delivered through a workforce trained and qualified to appropriate levels of competence. Nothing must get in the way of achieving that objective.