Special Educational Needs Appeals

HC Deb 08 November 1995 vol 265 cc963-4W

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many special educational needs appeals have been lodged with the Special Educational Needs Tribunal from September 1994 to date; [42263]

(2) how many special education needs appeals have been heard from September 1994 to date; [42264]

(3) how many special educational needs appeals have been withdrawn or settled prior to a hearing taking place; [42265]

(4) how many appellants whose appeals were heard received written confirmation of the outcome of their appeal (a) within four months of the date of lodging their appeal, (b) within between four and five months of the date of lodging their appeal, (c) within between five and six months of the date of lodging their appeal, (d) within between six and seven months of the date of lodging their appeal, (e) within between seven and eight months of the date of lodging their appeal and (f) over eight months of the date of lodging their appeal. [42266]

Mr. Forth

The Department does not maintain detailed records about appeals to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal, which is an independent non-departmental public body. I have therefore asked the president of the tribunal, Mr. Trevor Aldridge QC, to write to the hon. Member.

Information about the numbers of appeals to the tribunal will be available in the president's annual report to the Secretary of State, which will be placed in the Library of the House when it is published.