Offender Management Bill

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: New clause 7— Provision of speech therapy, etc.— ‘(1) It shall be the duty of each provider of probation services to ensure that— (a) every prisoner and young offender is assessed for speech, language and communication impairments by a qualified therapist, (b) contractual arrangements are made to provide any therapy required consequent on this assessment. 28 Feb 2007 : Column 994 (2) For the purposes of this section a ““qualified therapist”” shall be a therapist of not fewer than five years’ standing, qualified in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of State.’. Amendment No. 22, in page 5, line 18, clause 6, at end insert— ‘(5) The Secretary of State shall, by regulation, make provision as to the necessary training and skills for an officer of any provider of probation services.’. Amendment No. 20, in page 10, line 28, clause 13, at end insert— ‘( ) A worker at a contracted-out prison shall be subject to qualification requirements that the Secretary of State shall by regulation define.’.