§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of speech and language therapists for children. [38438]
§ Jacqui SmithSpeech and language therapists working in the national health service have a broad range of responsibilities and children are one of the many
General medical practitioners in England by age and sex, 2001 Total Under 30 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–64 65 and over All practitioners 31,835 1,325 3,578 5,590 6,254 5,221 4,680 3,244 1,396 546 All UPEs 27,843 270 2,466 4,844 5,777 5,012 4,564 3,154 1,325 431 Male—all practitioners 19,743 445 1,535 2,885 3,765 3,510 3,463 2,545 1,139 456 Male-UPEs 18,574 114 1,222 2,740 3,673 3,451 3,419 2,494 1,093 368 Female—all practitioners 12,092 880 2,043 2,706 2,489 1,711 1,217 699 257 90 Female-UPEs 9,269 156 1,244 2,104 2,104 1,561 1,145 660 232 63 Notes:
All practitioners include Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors, PMS Other and GP Retainers.
UPEs (Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents) include GMS Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs.
Information for Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs in England and Wales work part-time; and how many worked part-time in 1997. [39207]
760Wimportant groups they help. Since 1997, the number of qualified speech and language therapists has increased by 17 per cent. (from 4,870 to 5,680 in 2001). We are also committed in the NHS plan to increasing the number of training places for therapists (including speech and language therapists) and other professional staff by 4,450 by 2004. The number of speech and language therapy training commissions increased by 101 between 1999 and 2000 and 2000 and 2001, 11 in 2001–02 and further increases are planned for 2002–03.