Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Education on changes in funding for speech therapy for children; and if he will make a statement.

We have not had any specific recent discussion on changes in funding for speech and language therapy and are not aware of any change in funding arrangements. Local authorities (and some schools), and clinical commissioning groups commission speech and language therapy to meet the educational and health needs of the children and young people for whom they are responsible.

We introduced in September a new statutory framework for joint commissioning of services for children and young people with special educational needs and disability (which includes many with a communication need), which requires commissioners to work together in assessment, planning and securing of services.