To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from health boards about problems being experienced in recruiting speech therapists.

No representations have been received from health boards about this matter, but it am aware that there are some localised recruitment problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has drawn about the availability of speech therapists following the staffing survey of professions allied to medicine; and if he will make a statement.

A comparison of the manpower planning advisory group's survey of the professions allied to medicine for 31 March 1990 with the same period in 1989 shows that the funded establishment for speech therapists has increased from 386 whole-time equivalents to 400 whole-time equivalents although the staff in post has remained the same. The manpower planning advisory group is to produce a report on speech therapy in the near future and I will give attention to its recommendations.