Children: Social Workers

Fiona Mactaggart
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills about the training of social workers for children.

Beverley Hughes
In December 2008, we announced a Social Work Taskforce which will make recommendations for long-term reform of social work; social worker initial training will be considered as part of this. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills with its remit for higher education is an important partner in responding to these recommendations and ministers and officials from the two Departments are in regular conversations.