HC Deb 02 May 1963 vol 676 c1294
18. Mr. Fitch

asked the Minister of Education how many local education authorities in England and Wales are without the services of a speech therapist at the present time.

Sir E. Boyle

Twenty, Sir.

Mr. Fitch

What steps is the Minister taking to help those local education authorities which wish to obtain the services of a speech therapist to do so?

Sir E. Boyle

I hope that the Manchester training school opened in 1960 will improve recruitment in the North, and I am considering the establishment of a further new school in the North- East.

Mr. Hilton

Is not the main stumbling-block to the recruitment of speech therapists the appallingly low salary paid? Will the Minister consider increasing the salary scale, since these people have specialised training for very important work? I feel sure that, if he did increase the salaries, this would go a long way towards solving the problem.

Sir E. Boyle

For status and pay, speech therapists are regarded as analogous to the professions supplementary to medicine, and questions on that subject should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.