§ 14. Mr. Peter Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has completed his further consideration of the report of the Warnock committee on the educational needs of handicapped children and young people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerI have published today a White Paper containing proposals for a new approach to individual educational needs on the lines recommended by the Warnock committee. My right hon. Friends have also published today their proposals for England and Wales. Copies of the White Papers have been laid before the House. I intend to embody my proposals in legislation at the first convenient opportunity.
§ Mr. FraserI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for working so assiduously on this matter as to be able to answer my question today, but may I ask him to what extent it differs from the English proposal? What, particularly, is the role given to parents in the assessment of their children's needs.
§ Mr. YoungerI am grateful to my hon. Friend. There are no differences of substance between the proposals for 516 Scotland and those for England and Wales, and the main principles—that is to say, abolition of categories of handicap and concentration on children's needs—are the same. The differences between the two arise mainly from our differing education systems and traditions and from different existing statutory provisions. We envisage that parents will have similar rights, whether they have handicapped or other children, as regards the school to which they will go.
§ Mr. EadieIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his hon. Friend the Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. Gray) and I introduced private legislation relating to the mentally handicap. ped? Is he also aware that there is a feeling in Scotland that financial resources are not being fairly allocated to the mentally handicapped? Does he agree that at this time of economic recession the mentally handicapped will be more disadvantaged than others? Will he try to do something immediately for the mentally handicapped, other than what has been said in the worthwhile announcement relating to the Warnock report.
§ Mr. YoungerI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, and I know of his longstanding interest in this matter. I hope that the proposals in the White Paper will meet with his approval. I look forward to discussing them with him if he wishes. All these matters are subject to the overriding need for finance, and I shall ensure that the needs of handicapped children are given their proper priority.