Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report of the Children's Commissioner published 11 June 2019 entitled We need to talk: Access to speech and language therapy, what steps he is taking to end the postcode lottery in funding for speech and language therapy for children.

The NHS Long Term Plan recognises the importance of speech and language therapists and proposes that local areas design and implement models of care that are age appropriate, closer to home and bring together physical and mental health services.

The Department for Education with Public Health England is investing £1.9 million in training for health visitors and early years practitioners to promote speech, language and communication.