§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, he will take steps to increase public expenditure on speech therapy services throughout the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinFor the past few years there has been a welcome and substantial annual increase in the numbers of speech therapists employed in the NHS. I have no reason to suppose that a similar increase will not take place in the coming year, but it is for health authorities to decide the relative priorities for the development of speech therapy and other services in the light of their local circumstances.