HC Deb 19 November 1970 vol 806 cc1410-2
15. Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will establish a committee with the following terms of reference, namely, to investigate the special problems involved in the education of deaf children, to evaluate the educational standards reached by deaf children, to survey the further education prospects for the deaf school leaver, and to make recommendations for assisting deaf children to fulfil their potential.

Mrs. Thatcher

I know the hon. Member's great concern for the problems likely to affect the educational attainment of these children, but I do not think it necessary to establish a further committee. The Lewis Committee which reported in 1968 considered some of the problems of children with impaired hearing and speech.

Further, a group of Her Majesty's inspectors are currently conducting an investigation into the language development of 10-year-old deaf children, and the Principal Medical Officer in the Department is conducting a survey of the communication skills of children in schools for the deaf.

Mr. Ashley

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the terms of reference of the Lewis Committee were very narrow and that its recommendations have not been implemented? Would she at least consider establishing a committee to evaluate the educational standards of deaf children so that we may know the size and nature of the problem?

Mrs. Thatcher

I agree that the terms of reference of the Lewis Committee were narrow, but before setting up any other committee or considering it, I would like to see what results emerge from the two surveys of which I spoke in my original answer.

16. Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to direct local education authorities to provide her with information on the provisions made for the education of children suffering from blindness and deafness, autism and other forms of early childhood psychosis, and acute dyslexia, respectively.

Mrs. Thatcher

I asked local education authorities in July for information about the provision made for the education of children suffering from difficulties of both sight and hearing, and am considering issuing a similar request in respect of autistic children. I am not at present convinced that similar action is required in connection with children experiencing particular difficulty in learning to read and write, which may be due to a variety of causes.

Mr. Ashley

I welcome the first part of that reply, but as the problems of children suffering from dyslexia are serious and seriously underestimated, would the right hon. Lady reconsider what can be done for them?

Mrs. Thatcher

I am always prepared to reconsider, but I think that the difficulties of reading extend to a wider group than the hon. Gentleman has in mind.