§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to reorganise speech therapy services in schools to ensure that they represent the best interests of children;
(2) who is responsible for providing speech therapy services in schools; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe provision of speech therapy services in schools is primarily the responsibility of district health authorities. Where speech therapy forms part of the special educational provision specified in a child's statement of special educational need, the local education authority has a duty to ensure that that provision is made. This is usually done through the district health authority, but if for any reason the health authority is unable to provide it, the local education authority must do so.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he intends to take to enhance the status and pay of speech therapists.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTerms and conditions of service for speech therapists are set by the scientific and professional staffs Whitley council. Basic pay rates, as recently agreed within the council, now range from £11,187 to £28,674. A flexible pay and grading structure was recently introduced enabling NHS managers to reflect local patterns of service delivery. Employing authorities also have the ability to supplement basic pay rates by up to 20 per cent. to overcome any particular recruitment and retention difficulties.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the speech therapy units in each of the local education authorities in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe information requested is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was provided for speech therapy for school children in Wales for each of the years 1980 to 1991.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettInformation regarding expenditure on speech therapy for school children in Wales is 889W not collected centrally. However, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him on Thursday 31 January 1991, which provided expenditure data for speech therapy services generally by health authorities in Wales between 1979–80 and 1989–90. Comparable information for 1990–91 is not yet available.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what response he will be making to the Welsh Consumer Council report "Speech Therapy and Children in Schools", of July 1991;
(2) if he will meet the Welsh Consumer Council to discuss their publication on speech therapy.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe report of the Welsh Consumer Council raises a number of issues which require careful consideration. My right hon. Friend and I will consider what action is warranted in the light of that detailed consideration.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will fund an all-Wales convention and discuss policy on speech therapy and children in the schools of Wales.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsWe have no plans to do so.