§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hearing therapists are employed in each of the district health authorities in Wales; and how many are bilingual.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to ensure proper training and recruitment of bilingual speech therapists in each district health authority in Wales.
§ Mr. GristThe Department has encouraged all health authorities in Wales to undertake, as part of their annual manpower resource plans, an assessment of their requirements for bilingual staff and of posts where the ability to practise through the medium of English and Welsh is required. Recruitment to particular posts is an operational matter for individual health authorities. The extent, format and location of education and training for health care professional groups in Wales is being considered within the context of the Department's consultation document "The Health Service in Wales. Towards 2000: Manpower Planning, Education and Training", responses to which are currently being considered.