§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many speech and language therapy posts cover special schools within each district health authority in England; how many posts were vacant at the latest available date; and what assessment she has made of the extent of problems in recruitment to speech and language therapy posts.
621W
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 23 March 1993]: Information on the number of speech and language therapy posts covering special schools are not available centrally. In 1991 the number of whole-time equivalent speech therapists employed in the national health service in England was 2,979, an increase of 57 per cent. since 1982. The vacancy rate in funded posts has fallen from 11.8 per cent. in 1990 to 6.8 per cent. in 1992.
Local authority April 1990 to April 1991 April 1991 to April 1992 Housing benefit internal reviews carried out Housing benefit review boards held Housing benefit internal reviews carried out Housing benefit review boards held Hartlepool 1,500 20 64 12 Langbaurgh 137 11 102 12 Middlesbrough 345 15 41 17 Stockton on Tees 182 8 30 4 The following figures have been provided by the Independent Tribunal Service, and cover the county as a whole:
January to December 1990 January to December 1991 January to December 1992 Medical appeal tribunals 74 76 124 Social security appeal tribunals 1 2215 2402 493 1Figures available from April to December 1990 only. 2These figures including some cases heard at Hartlepool social security appeal tribunal which did not emanate from the county of Cleveland.