§ Mr. WatsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to enable the Greater Glasgow health board to increase the provision of speech therapists and occupational therapists at special schools within Glasgow.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythOn 11 June I instigated a number of measures designed to meet the shortage of speech therapists and of therapy services for children with special educational needs.
These measures include a review of future demand, encouragement to qualified staff who are no longer in employment to return to work and a study to assess the feasibility of introducing in-service training courses for teachers to assist with the delivery of speech therapy treatment. Such courses would be supported by specific grant resources of 75 per cent. of the cost.
Greater Glasgow health board has already taken steps to increase its provision of speech and occupational therapists.