Education Act 1981: Implementation (Hansard, 11 May 1988)

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, all the provisions of the Education Act 1981 are in force. The Act lays upon local education authorities certain duties in respect of provision for children with special educational needs. It is for local education authorities to determine their own priorities for the level of resources to be made available for the purposes of the Act.

§ Lord Dormand of Easington
My Lords, what are the reasons for so little having been done practically to implement all the provisions of the Act?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I believe that the Warnock Report estimated that it would take until the end of the century for all its recommendations to be fully implemented. All local education authorities are now operating the procedures introduced by the 1981 Act. Prior to the Act, base lines for special education provision varied significantly among local eduction authorities. Some of the variation persists as some local authorities push ahead at different rates with reviews of their provisions. However, all are doing something. Some are doing more than others.

§ Lord Stallard
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that those involved in the teaching of children with disabilities and children with special education needs are deeply concerned that the Education Reform Bill cuts across the provisions of the 1981 Act?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, we do not believe that the provisions of the new Bill diminish the effects of the 1981 Act in any way. It is intended that all children, including those with special education needs, will benefit from the provisions of the Bill. Much is already being done in this area in respect of teachers and teacher training.

§ Lord Stallard
My Lords, is the Minister aware that people are concerned about the alternative local financial provisions being made under the Education Reform Bill and that it will be more difficult for local authorities to find the resources necessary to carry out their duties under the 1981 Act? That will apply particularly if the ILEA is abolished.

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, no; I do not agree with the conclusions of the noble Lord. The Government's plans for local authority spending on education for 1988–89, announced last November, represent a cash increase of 7.9 per cent. over the 1987–88 plans. That is in addition to the substantial increase of 18.3 per cent. for the previous year. The plans for special education in 1988–89 are 8.3 per cent. higher than the 1987–88 plans. That increase should help local education authorities to pursue their policy priorities for special education.

§ Lord Taylor of Blackburn
My Lords, is the Minister aware of the concern of many parents of handicapped children about the length of time taken from the original application to the fulfilling of the statement?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, we are aware that problems have emerged in local authorities in certain areas. Of course, they are being kept under review.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, in view of the close link between this Question and the previous Question, will the Minister say whether the policy statement that she referred to in connection with Question No. 2 goes any wider than deaf-blind children? Does it deal with other disabilities? Can she give some idea as to when the statement is likely to be published?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the statement relating to the previous Question standing in the name of the noble Viscount will be issued fairly soon, though I cannot give a date. It relates specifically to double-handicapped children. However, the department will be undertaking a review of the 1981 Act later this year. That will take into account the outcome of research projects, the advice of HMI, together with the findings of last year's report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Education, Science and the Arts on children with special education needs.

§ Baroness Masham of Ilton
My Lords, is the Minister aware that many people will be reassured if more is written into the present Education Reform Bill as regards the needs of children with special education needs?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the noble Baroness and her friends have made sure that we are fully aware of this particular area as it is affected by the Education Reform Bill. We are still in the process of considering the comments and concerns that have been expressed.

§ Lord Glenamara
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the key to the problem is an inadequate supply of trained teachers? Will she agree that, probably without doubt, this is the most skilled and rewarding branch of teaching? Will the Government initiate a campaign to encourage teachers—especially young teachers—to undertake in-service training for the teaching of the disabled, including the unfortunate children mentioned by my noble friend Lord Tonypandy?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I am well aware of the importance of teachers in this area; my mother was a teacher in a special school. Much has been done. The Government have established national priorities with funding at 70 per cent. grant level for in-service training in order to meet the special education needs of children with learning difficulties in schools. Priority areas include teachers of children with disabilities of sight or hearing, or with severe learning difficulties; designated teachers within ordinary schools; and the training of education psychologists.

§ Lord Dormand of Easington
My Lords, will the Minister agree that the first part of her Answer was rather odd because the Warnock Report was published before the 1981 Act? Perhaps she will look at her Answer again. Is she aware that the real reason such little progress has been made is the lack of a definite commitment on the part of the Government to the integration of handicapped children into what might be described as the normal education system? In those circumstances, will she consider as a matter of urgency convening a meeting of all interested parties to consider what immediate steps can be taken to implement the more important parts of the Act?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I understand that the 1981 Act was largely based on the Warnock Report; hence my reference to the comments in the report. The department intends to conduct a review during which consultation with a number of interested parties and organisations will take place.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that it is quite unacceptable that the Government should be rushing the Education Reform Bill through the House before the proposals relating to handicapped and other children who are suffering have been properly processed?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, we have said on many occasions that the Education Reform Bill is a framework Bill. These considerations will be taken fully into account in the implementation of the Bill.