HC Deb 19 October 1988 vol 138 cc894-6W
Mr. Clay

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the increase in the number of claimants and the level of expenditure on housing benefit which will result from the introduction of the community charge.

Mr. Scott

[holding answer 17 June 1988]: The information requested is given in the table.

Mr. Mellor

I expect the report to be published by the researcher when it is complete.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to ensure that the current National Health Service structure for speech therapists is retained if local education authorities are providing funding for speech therapy.

Mr. Mellor

We do not believe that the provision of funds for speech therapy by local education authorities would undermine the current National Health Services structure for speech therapists. Health authorities remain responsible for the provision of speech therapy services and there is in general good co-operation between health authorities and local educational authorities in the provision of services for children.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the district health authorities which have a specialist speech therapist in post.

Mr. Mellor

We do not hold this information centrally, but under the new flexible pay and grading structure introduced on 1 January this yar, it is possible for speech therapists in most grades to be employed in a specialist field.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide central funds for the provision of speech therapy services.

Mr. Mellor

None.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the respective duties of(a) education authorities and (b) health authorities to provide funds for speech therapy services.

Mr. Mellor

Speech therapy is one of the services which it is the duty of health authorities to provide under the National Health Service Act 1977. Local education authorities have no duty to provide funds for speech therapy services, but will have the power to do so when a recent amendment to the Education Act 1981 comes into effect on 1 November 1988.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he intends to take to increase the number of specialist speech therapists who work with deaf children and adults.

Mr. Mellor

This is a matter for individual health authorities and speech therapy managers.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he intends to take to increase the minimum and maximum salary levels of speech therapists following the claim submitted on 1 April.

Mr. Mellor

Pay is a matter for negotiation in the appropriate Whitley council. I understand that at a joint meeting on 27 June National Health Service management made an offer of 5.5 per cent, increase on all points of all scales. This offer, which includes salaries ranging from £8,704 to £20,263, has been rejected. Negotiations are continuing on the offer and a further meeting is to be arranged.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many specialist speech therapists in the United Kingdom work with deaf children and adults;

(2) how many children had speech therapy identified as a special need on special educational statements; and if he will list the number of these children that receive therapy at the level required.

Mr. Mellor

This information is not available centrally.