asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to increase the number of social work staff employed by health boards to allow the development of family support services as a preventative measure against cases of non-accidental injury to children.

As part of the development of services for deprived children and children at risk, I would envisage the expansion of family support services. I consider that such an expansion would serve not only to help families in stress to cope with their problems but also as a significant preventive measure against the incidence of non-accidental injury to children. This would of course necessarily entail an increase in personnel, including social workers. I shall be examining the extent to which this can be accomplished in the light of the financial position.