§ 3.20 p.m.
§ Baroness DavidMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are monitoring, and how they propose to monitor in the future, the way in which the Education Act 1981 is working.
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are monitoring implementation of the Education Act 1981 by means of frequent and regular reports from Her Majesty's inspectorate; a research project extending over three years commissioned from London University to monitor the development of local policy and provision for special needs; and local seminars held to promote discussion and provide guidance on the inter-professional co-operation required by the new procedures. We shall continue to 1254 consider the need for other forms of monitoring and to examine any specific proposals which may be made.
§ Baroness DavidMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. I was aware of the report that is to come from the Institute of Education, but is it not a fact that that report is not due to be published until 1986? That really is quite a long time off. Is the Minister satisfied in view of the fact that 15 authorities have not sent in their returns for the number of children, with statements, although those returns should have been in by January last? Is the Minister certain that those 15 authorities are implementing the Act properly?
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, I confirm what the noble Baroness said about the research project at London University. That will be completed in 1986, but obviously it is a long-term project. I cannot comment on the 15 authorities individually beyond saying that there are bound to be teething problems with the introduction of a major piece of social legislation.
§ Baroness DavidMy Lords, can the Minister give a figure for the number of children ascertained as being handicapped now who are in ordinary schools? The last figure I could find was from January 1983.
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, according to returns from schools, the number of children ascertained as handicapped in ordinary schools rose from 29,976 in January 1982 to 37,970 in January 1983. Although the figure for 1984 is not directly comparable because of changes introduced under the Education Act 1981, the provisional return for January 1984 shows 48,069 pupils in ordinary schools assessed as needing special educational provision.
§ Lord Davies of LeekMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware of the sad loss to the child who will only ever receive an elementary education, of books and all the other paraphernalia that is needed by that lower echelon of children? They should at least receive a first-class elementary education.
§ The Earl of SwintonMy Lords, the original Question refers to the Education Act 1981, which is largely to do with handicapped children receiving education in ordinary schools. The figures I have given are surely very encouraging and show that this is happening more and more.