§ 3.6 p.m.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how long the present scale of salaries for qualified speech therapists, who have completed a three-year course of training, has remained at its present level, and whether any action is contemplated by the Government in this matter.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, salaries are in the first instance a matter for the Whitley Council who last month agreed to an increase of 4 per cent. from October 1, 1967, for various professions, including speech therapists. The new salary scales supersede those which had been in operation since July 1, 1965, and I understand that negotiations are proceeding on the possibility of a further increase which would be effective from January 1, 1969.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Would she not agree that, Whitley Council or no Whitley Council, a salary increase of only 4 per cent. is totally inadequate to a scale which begins at £695 and, after 14 years, goes up to only £1,320? Is it not utterly wrong that people who are doing this highly skilled work should be made to suffer financial hardships which are not shared by other far less highly skilled technicians in the Hospital Service; and, even if the revision which is due takes place, can my noble friend give an assurance that it will be really adequate to meet the difficulties which these people are now facing?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I am sure my noble friend will appreciate that I should like to be able to give him this assurance. What I can say is that I wholeheartedly agree with him as to the value and skill of speech therapists. I have some personal knowledge o f their work. My noble friend will appreciate that the Minister is aware of this matter. I can say no more than that some discussions have taken place. I should perhaps remind the noble Lord that this is primarily a matter for the Whitley Council.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, while not in any sense holding my noble friend responsible, may I ask whether she will bring to the notice of her right honourable friend the fact that, despite these increases, any immigrant unskilled manual labourer is rewarded to a much greater extent than are these women?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I would agree to some extent with my noble friend. Unhappily, that is equally true of some other professions, and it perhaps reflects the strange scale of values which exist in our society. I will certainly bring to the notice of my right honourable friend the points that have been raised.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many places of entry ale now available annually for training in a three-year course for qualification as a speech therapist, and what increase in the present number is contemplated in view of the very heavy demand for these specialised services.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, there are about 210 places available annually in all speech therapy schools in the United Kingdom. Owing to a shortage of qualified candidates a proportion of these places is not filled. The provision of training places will be kept under review.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for her reply. Is not the shortage of candidates directly related to the salary scales with which we have just 211 been dealing? Is she aware that there are only 1,680 registered speech therapists, who have to cope with the problem of nearly 250,000 children afflicted with speech defects? Could not the Government, during this Mental Health Week, make a special gesture to make more facilities available for the training of these badly-needed technicians?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord will have achieved a great deal by raising this matter to-day and by getting on record what he has said. Although I cannot answer for my right honourable friend, I can assure the noble Lord that I will take this matter to him. As I have said, I have had personal experience of this wonderful profession. I think it would be fair to point out, as I am sure the noble Lord will agree, that not only the salary but the nature of the work, which is demanding, may be one of the reasons that there are not more people entering the profession. One must also recognise that somebody who is qualified in speech therapy can go into other more congenial professions. I will, however, certainly bring what has been said to the attention of my right honourable friend.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that there are a large number of elderly people suffering from strokes who require the help of speech therapists? Can she tell the House what proportion of therapists' time is at present taken up with dealing with children as opposed to dealing with elderly people?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I have not the breakdown of the figures for which the noble Lord has asked. I shall he happy to let him have them.