To ask the Secretary of Stale for Health what steps he has taken to increase recruitment of social workers and to promote social work as a career; and if he will make a statement.

The primary responsibility for ensuring an adequate, suitably trained work force rests with employers. There is no legislative basis for ministerial involvement in a recruitment campaign for social workers, where the major employers are local authorities. However, the Department has taken steps to assist interested parties to develop better work force analysis systems and, following a meeting with the Association of Directors of Social Services last year, the Department will be funding a one day seminar this spring to bring together all those with work force interests, to identify key issues and discuss future action.