HC Deb 10 December 1974 vol 883 cc227-8
14. Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has received from the College of Speech Therapists about the implementation of the Quirk Report; and what reply she has sent.

Mr. Alfred Morris

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mrs. Ewing) on 3rd December.—[Vol. 882, c. 418.]

Mr. Beith

Does not the hon. Gentleman feel that he could be a bit more communicative to the House, in all corners of which there is deep concern about this question? Does he not recognise that it has been bad enough to have a serious shortage of speech therapists but that the administrative delay in obtaining the organisation of speech therapists through the appointment of area speech therapists is making matters worse? Can he act more quickly?

Mr. Morris

My reply of 3rd September was communicative. My right hon. Friend wrote at great length to the college on 26th November. I understand the hon. Member's insistence about urgency. We shall move as rapidly as we can.

Mr. Edwin Wainwright

Will my hon. Friend accept that my hon. Friends and I are very well satisfied with the efforts made by his Department and himself to increase the number of speech therapists? Will he bear in mind that there are still a good many young children waiting for speech training and that once we can get them trained they will be able to earn their living rather than be a burden on the State? Will he push matters as hard as he can to make sure that we have more speech therapists?

Mr. Morris

Yes, Sir. The Quirk Report envisaged a near trebling of the number of speech therapists in addition to the recruitment of a large number of aides to assist those therapists in their work. I am extremely conscious of the point made by my hon. Friend.