MAKE CHATTER MATTER CAMPAIGN

Early day motion 2738, tabled 12 October 2006 by Tim Loughton (Conservative). Signed by 45 members.

That this House notes with concern that one in 10 children have a communication disability and that in addition as many as half of all children entering primary school have impoverished speech and language skills; congratulates I CAN, the charity that helps children communicate, on the launch of its Make Chatter Matter campaign with the support of BT; welcomes the campaign's focus on ensuring children's communication skills are at the core of children's policy development; notes the campaign's aims of informed parents, skilled staff, communication friendly early-years settings and specialist provision; and further urges the Government to put communication at the heart of the children's policy agenda, providing families and early years workers with the knowledge and skills to support all children.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 13, Conservative 7, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Scottish National Party 1.