HC Deb 06 February 2002 vol 379 c1048W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent social work staff there were on local authority establishments in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these posts were left unfilled in each year. [32662]

Jacqui Smith

For the numbers of whole-time equivalent social work staff, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Hywel Williams) on 18 January 2002,Official Report, column 530W. Information on the number of unfilled social work staff posts is not held centrally.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the trends in the use made by social services departments of agency staff in each of the last four years. [32663]

Jacqui Smith

Information on the use of agency staff by local authority social services departments is not held centrally.