§ 56. Mr. MacCollasked the Minister of Education if he will make a statement on the result of his discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the provision of temporary residential accommodation for educationally subnormal or maladjusted children.
§ Mr. VosperI understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department that he has no evidence that this is a large problem. Local education authorities have power to board, otherwise than at school, children requiring special educational treatment, and could use these powers in appropriate cases for educationally subnormal or maladjusted children pending their admission to special schools.
§ Mr. MacCollDoes not the hon. Gentleman remember that in my last Question on this subject I drew attention to the fact that children were being brought into court as being beyond the control of their parents who need never have come into court at all if the education authorities concerned had been carrying out their functions under the Education Act? Is not the hon. Member merely evading the issue by saying that there are facilities?
§ Mr. VosperNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend informs me that he has little evidence that this is a large problem. I am prepared to discuss it further with the hon. Member as soon as the Report of the Committee on Maladjusted Children is received, which my right hon. Friend expects will be in two or three weeks' time.