HC Deb 17 December 1987 vol 124 cc669-70W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will order a review of joint financing in Wales and make available extra funds to authorities in Wales with a view to making urgent improvements to speech therapy provision.

Mr. Grist

The number of whole-time equivalent speech therapists in Wales has doubled since 1979. The determination of staffing levels is the responsibility of district health authorities using their discretionary resources and applications for central funding such as joint finance as appropriate.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will undertake a tour of language units in Clwyd schools to meet parents, teachers and speech therapists to discuss improvements in the staffing provision in speech therapy.

Mr. Grist

No. The determination of appropriate staffing levels in speech therapy is the responsibility of the district health authority.