HC Deb 15 February 1977 vol 926 cc247-8
16. Mr. Peter Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision her Department is making in the area of special education.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

The provision education authorities as part of their of special education is a matter for local general responsibility for securing educational facilities to meet the needs of their areas. My Department exercises statutory, financial and administrative controls and gives guidance on policy, but makes no direct provision.

Mr. Bottomley

Is the Secretary of State aware that special education covers both the 5 per cent. with special disabilities and the 5 per cent. with special abilities? Is she satisfied that the great debate or the local authorities will pay sufficient attention to these groups and especially to those with special abilities?

Mrs. Williams

It will be open to those present to raise the matter, but it is not one of the subjects down for discussion in the great debate.

Mr. Whitehead

Will my right hon. Friend look particularly at the problem of children with specific reading disabilities? Will she consider the successful scheme that has been operated in some local education authority areas, of classroom withdrawal for those children who need a one-to-one ratio if they are to be taught to read?

Mrs. Williams

Yes. Some work on dyslexia is being undertaken by individual local education authorities and by general research supported by my Department. I am aware that this disability must be treated with special teaching concentration.