§ 32. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Minister of Education if he will now introduce legislation so that parents of handicapped children will have the right to apply for a maintenance grant when the child reaches the age of 15 years.
§ Sir E. BoyleI do not expect to be able to introduce legislation on this subject during the present Parliamentary Session.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the parents of these children suffer a great deal of hardship and that a boy of 15 may 1432 cost as much to keep as most adults? Is it not essential that these boys and girls should be as well clothed as possible while attending school so that the discrimination against them is as little as possible?
§ Sir E. BoyleI appreciate that. On the other hand, children in special schools benefit from preferential treatment in other ways, and if they attend boarding school no financial contribution from the parents is expected. However, I have not closed my mind on this matter.