ROYAL COLLEGE OF SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPISTS' GIVING VOICE CAMPAIGN

That this House notes that communication disability is the most common disorder in childhood, that 10 per cent. of children start school with speech, language and communication needs, and in areas of deprivation 55 per cent. of children start school without the necessary skills to learn to read and write and that 70 per cent. of young offenders have speech, language and communication needs; is concerned that without access to specialist support and the training provided by speech and language therapists to health visitors, teachers and the wider workforce, these problems become entrenched; further notes that early investment in speech and language therapy reduces avoidable costs and waste within the health sector, local authorities, education system, justice system and the wider economy; is further concerned that budgetary pressures are already forcing cutbacks in local services; welcomes the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists' (RCSLT) Giving Voice campaign which aims to increase understanding of the role of speech and language therapy and to show how therapy transforms lives and releases value for government, society and the economy, not only for children and young people but also for adults such as stroke survivors; and calls on the Government to work with the RCSLT and others to ensure that local decision makers safeguard access to timely speech and language therapy and to ensure that public health budgets can be used for speech and language therapy.