Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to have discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the the findings of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists' report entitled, A Profession Under Pressure, published in July 2025.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Speech and Language Therapists break down communication barriers, unlocking learning, inclusion, and opportunity for every child. They play a critical role in early intervention for children and young people. However, they have the second highest waiting list in children’s community services. I am grateful to the Royal College for highlighting these issues in their report.

The department knows that continuing to build the pipeline of speech and language therapists is essential. We are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to improve access to community health services, including speech and language therapy, for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists entitled A Profession Under Pressure, published on 16 July 2025.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist’s report, ‘A Profession under Pressure’, identified a series of recommendations to help address retention issues in the Speech and Language Therapist workforce.

The report identifies issues around work-life balance, professional development, wellbeing and burnout. This Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, to ensure that we retain more of our skilled and dedicated staff and has set out this commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan.

We will publish a 10-Year Workforce Plan later this year setting out how we will ensure staff are better treated, with better training and more fulfilling roles.

Found: DAVID WILLIAMS, CB MINISTRY OF DEFENCE FLOOR 5, ZONE D, MAIN BUILDING, WHITEHALL LONDON SW1A

Found: DAVID WILLIAMS, CB MINISTRY OF DEFENCE FLOOR 5, ZONE D, MAIN BUILDING, WHITEHALL LONDON SW1A

Found: Secretary of State for Defence Rt Hon John Healey MP, Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence; David Williams

Found: David Williams: Thank you, Chair.

Found: signed on his behalf 9 Annex A Schedule of Post Inquiry representations Party Date David Williams

Found: N1 Surgery London North East 3663381 David Werring Silver Medicine London North East 2982894 David Williams