§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) chiropodists, (b) physiotherapists, (c) occupational therapists, (d) speech therapists and (e) hearing therapists are currently in their first, second and third years of training, as appropriate; and how many new training places are planned for each of the next 10 years in each specialty.
§ Mr. MoyleThis information is not held centrally. However, the intakes for schools in Great Britain during the last three years have been as follows:
Profession 1975 1976 1977 Chiropodists 250 284 276 Physiotherapists 892 925 965 Occupational therapists 536 552 605 Speech therapists 332 312 350 Hearing therapists nil nil nil It is envisaged that intakes for schools training chiropodists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists will increase in accordance with developments foreshadowed in the documents on priorities in the health and personal social services published by the Department in 1976 and 1977. No hearing therapists have been trained to date but arrangements are being made to recruit and train a small number. It is envisaged that a course will start later this year with an intake of 10 students and that there will be similar intakes during the three following years. The training and role of hearing therapists will be kept under review during this developmental period.