§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will clarify the legislative basis on which his Department made the statement in a letter of 21 January to the chairman of Gwynedd education committee, that the primary responsibility for the provision of speech therapy services lies with health authorities; in which guidelines these responsibilities are placed on health authorities; and what steps he takes to monitor health authority performance of such responsibilities.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe general provision of speech therapy services is the responsibility of health authorities under the National Health Service Act 1977. The level of provision is a matter for health authorities to determine in the light of local need, competing demands and resources available. The performance of health authorities is monitored during the annual review process.
In the case of a child who has a statement of special educational needs, his/her local education authority must secure any special educational provision which is required to meet those needs and is specified in the statement. Where such special educational provision includes speech therapy, this must be provided in accordance with the statement.