HC Deb 29 January 1974 vol 868 cc221-2
3. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the inquiry into the education of the handicapped is expected to begin.

Mrs. Thatcher

After Easter.

Mr. Dormand

Is the right hon. Lady aware that her acceptance of the need for such an inquiry was long overdue? In the circumstances, will she see that the report is issued and acted upon at the earliest possible moment, and give an assurance that the inquiry will not be used as an excuse for not increasing resources for a special education between now and the issue of the committee's report?

Mrs. Thatcher

I have steadily increased the resources for special education, and I protected them during the recent cuts. I shall go on doing the best I can for the handicapped, who need that type of education. We have just announced the chairman of the special inquiry, Mrs. Mary Warnock, although other members have not yet been appointed. It is a little early to talk about receiving the report and about action upon it, when work has not yet started.

Mr. Alfred Morris

To help the committee of inquiry, will the right hon. Lady liaise with the Secretary of State for Social Services to establish the incidence of various kinds of severe disablement among children? Will it not make it very difficult for the inquiry if it has to guesstimate the numbers of children involved?

Mrs. Thatcher

I think that such an inquiry will ask for any information it needs to enable it to do its job well, and we shall do our best to find the information.

Mr. Ashley

Is the right hon. Lady aware that, while there is an urgent need to inquire into the education of all disabled children, there are specific categories of disability, such as deafness and blindness, in which the children are particularly discriminated against and find it particularly difficult to catch up? Will she consult the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and the Royal National Institute for the Blind to make sure that their case is carefully considered?

Mrs. Thatcher

I have already met representatives of the deaf, who put to me the point the hon. Gentleman has put, that those whom they represent, though small in number, should have special consideration, often because their disability is not obvious. I have taken that point, and hope to take it into account in the choice of those whom I appoint to the inquiry.