To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to maintain the present (a) level of funding for audiology training courses and (b) number of trained paediatric audiologists.

The level of funding allocated for audiology training courses is a matter for individual strategic health authorities. Working with stakeholders, we are developing a range of education and training programmes which will have a focus on audiology as part of modernising scientific careers. These will encompass the needs of both adult and paediatric services.