Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate, submitted written questions to Alan Milburn last week on Agenda for Change. Crispin Blunt was primed on the difficulties facing speech and language therapists, and the equal pay implications of this. The answers actually came not from Alan Milburn but from junior Health Minister John Hutton.

Most questions received a very glib response - full document available on request. These were the only 2 questions that were not answered:

Q192

..what average change in pay he expects for speech & language therapists in real terms over 3 years under AforC; & what proportion of these posts in the NHS are held by women

Q193

..whether the implementation of AforC is conditional upon the results of a ballot of NHS staff; & what account will be taken of the results of consultation with NHS staff in deciding whether AforC will be rolled out nationally in October 2004.

A: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible

If anyone fancies contacting their MP - on SLTs or the more general issues around AFC - this might be a good way of maintaining pressure.

Gill George