To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the recruitment arid maintenance in post of speech therapists.

Improving recruitment and retention are essentially local issues, but health authorities have been encouraged to consider part-time employment, flexible hours and job sharing. The recent pay settlement gives across the board increases of 9 per cent. over an 18-month period commencing 1 April 1989 and provides for a review of the grading structure to be brought forward with any changes to be implemented from 1 October 1990.