asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of social workers employed in local authorities in the years 1959, 1969 and 1979; and what were the total salaries paid for each year.

The latest available information shows that the whole-time equivalent of 21,500 social workers were employed by local authorities in England at 30 September 1977. The salary cost for 1977–78 at November 1977 prices was £102,199,000.Comparable information for 1959 and 1969 is not available.