Proceeding contribution from Bob Spink (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 28 November 2006. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Speech and Language Difficulties (Education).
Speech and Language Difficulties (Education)
My hon. Friend makes the point more forcefully and eloquently than I could have done, and I am grateful to him for doing so. My second point for the Minister relates to the fact that when I was a business man with companies in the 1980s, I had sheltered employment schemes. We were a community, not just a business. In the constituency of the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke), we had a unit with 10 people who did all sorts of wonderful work, with great value added. They brought the whole work force together as a community. They added more to my businesses than I added to their lives. We were able to do that because the Government provided encouragement and financial support for the schemes. I wonder if we can look again at how to make sure we can provide decent, dignified employment for such people. Many of the people whom I employed had never earned a wage before. I wonder if there is a way to get that debate rolling again. If there is one thing we can do in this House, it is to provide dignity and quality of life for vulnerable people in our constituencies. We have a duty to do that. Someone who cannot read or write or do sums will get by in life—many such people do—but when someone cannot speak or communicate people look the other way. Someone with those problems will have great difficulty; their human dignity will be offended and their quality of life will be much lower. That is the essential point that we must address when we consider education and caring for vulnerable people.
Secondary information
- Type
- Proceeding contribution
- Reference
- 453 c15WH
- Session
- 2006-07
- Chamber / Committee
- Westminster Hall
- Subjects
- Children Education Learning disability Special educational needs Speech and language therapy Speech and language disorders
- Link
- View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk
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