HC Deb 18 April 1978 vol 948 cc231-2
4. Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she remains satisfied with the educational provision for disabled children.

Miss Margaret Jackson

As I told my hon. Friend on 14th February, my right hon. Friend will continue to seek ways of improving the quality of special education.

Mr. Ashley

That is a very complacent reply. As only 10,000 out of 750,000 children in hospital are receiving any sort of education, is it not time that the Department woke up, did something about it and consulted other Departments? Will the Minister consult the Department of Health and Social Security, the National Union of Teachers and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and report back to the House within a month about what they propose to do?

Miss Jackson

I am touched by my hon. Friend's faith in the speed of response of the people he has mentioned. Education of children in hospitals is a difficult area because so many children are in hospital for a very short period. There has been an excellent document recently from the NUT which we and the DHSS are studying. We hope to make progress in this area.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

Does the Under-Secretary think that the maintained sector of the education system is yet capable of dealing with disabled young people, whether they be partially sighted, hard of hearing or disabled in other ways? Does she not consider that the specialist education units for the deaf and the blind will be necessary in the foreseeable future in order to ensure that these deserving groups receive an adequate education and can participate fully in adult life later?

Miss Jackson

It may be that many of these units, which are doing excellent work, will need to continue, but in a number of parts of the country it has been possible to educate more disabled children in ordinary schools and we are studying the progress made in this way.

Mr. Carter-Jones

Will my hon. Friend accept that access is often the main problem in educating disabled children in ordinary schools? In this place we have two simple ramps which make the House available to a substantial number of people. Will my hon. Friend please advise local education authorities of the importance of access in the provision of education for disabled children in ordinary schools?

Miss Jackson

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend's comments. We seek constantly to remind local authorities of the importance of these matters.