Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on maintaining the social work bursary; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is committed to ensuring a good supply of high quality social workers. This ambition will be achieved through a range of different training initiatives.

There is room for standards of training and the quality of intake to be improved, however, no final decision has been taken on the future of the social work bursary. Any changes would be subject to public consultation.