§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many pupils, respectively, in schools in each county of342W Wales, with statements under section 7(1) of the Education Act 1981, are in receipt of physiotherapy provisions as a result of the need indicated in that statement; and what proportion of those in need in each county that number constitutes;
(2) how many pupils, respectively, in schools in each county in Wales, with statements under section 7(1) of the Education Act 1981, are in receipt of speech therapy provision as a result of the need indicated in that statement; and what proportion of those in need in each county that number constitutes.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he will take to reduce the shortage of speech therapists; if he will initiate measures to make the career of speech therapists more attractive to potential entrants; if he will make available extra moneys to ensure that the salary levels and status of speech therapists are improved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristThe manpower resource planning exercise currently being undertaken by all health authorities is intended to provide details of future requirements at the all Wales level in a number of staff groups, including speech therapy. When that exercise has been completed later this year, consideration will be given to what action should be taken to meet those requirements. A new pay and grading structure for speech therapists was introduced with effect from 1 January 1988. The management side of the scientific and professional council took account of the recruitment difficulties affecting the profession nationally and believes that the new structure will bring considerable benefits to the profession. In the current year the management side has offered a 5.5 per cent. increase in pay effective from 1 April 1988. The staff side is at present consulting its membership on this offer.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will launch a campaign to be handled by the careers service promoting careers in physiotherapy and speech therapy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristWork is currently in hand on the preparation of revised recruitment literature promoting careers in the National Health Service generally. Within Wales, the manpower steering group established by the Department is giving consideration to measures to promote and encourage recruitment into the National Health Service in Wales. The need to target specific staff groups will be considered in the light of the outcome of the manpower resource planning exercise currently being undertaken by health authorities.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will call an all-Wales conference on speech therapy to discuss the deficiencies in speech therapy provision in schools in Wales and to prepare proposals to enhance provisions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristThe Welsh Office has asked health authorities through the manpower steering group to estimate how many speech therapists will be required by the National Health Service over the next 10 years and this should enable action to be taken where appropriate to meet those requirements.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the speech therapy units in Clwyd 343W local education authority county primary schools and specialist schools for the handicapped in Clwyd to discuss with parents the current shortage of qualified staff; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsNeither my right hon. Friend nor I have any present plans to do so.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to make it a statutory right for children to have sufficient speech therapy provision; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristWe are not convinced that the introduction of a statutory right would lead to a significant improvement in the provision of speech therapy to children.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ascertain from local education authorities and health authorities the availability of physiotherapists' service for handicapped pupils in Wales.
§ Mr. GristThe provision of physiotherapy for handicapped pupils is best determined by district health authorities in the light of their knowledge of local circumstances. The Welsh Office has asked health authorities to estimate how many physiotherapists will be required by the National Health Service over the next five to 10 years and this should enable action to be taken where appropriate to meet the requirements.