§ 4. Mr. C. Hughesasked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to enable the 370 school children in North Wales, who are in need of speech therapy but who are receiving no attention, to receive a proper course of treatment.
§ Mr. VosperI am glad to say that the national shortage of speech therapists is being gradually overcome, and my right hon. Friend is advising local education authorities in North Wales to approach the training institutions direct, in addition to advertising, so that they get more of the newly trained therapists.
§ Mr. HughesShould the shortage of speech therapists continue over a period of a year or two, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider utilising the services of trained elocutionists? I understand that they have had very good results with children who have defects of this kind.
§ Mr. VosperI should like to consider that suggestion. I agree that the situation in Caernarvonshire and Anglesey is particularly serious, and I am anxious to help local authorities to do everything they can to overcome it.