§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the national shortage of speech therapists, particularly in Aberdeen, that this shortage is due to their inadequate salary scale as contrasted with other qualified teachers and that local authorities are thus handicapped in discharging duties imposed on them by the Education Act, 1944; and if he will take steps to remedy the position.
§ Mr. NobleI am aware that education authorities are unable to obtain all the speech therapists they require.
Speech therapists who are not teachers are normally paid in accordance with salaries negotiated on the appropriate Whitley Council. I understand that new rates have been agreed on the Council and will be announced shortly.
Certificated teachers receive additions to their normal salaries if they are employed by education authorities as speech therapists. I have no reason to believe that these additions are inadequate.