HC Deb 06 March 1969 vol 779 cc138-41W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the 208 children born since 1st January, 1962, with defects of sight and hearing, of whom 44 are deaf and blind, are in units or schools designed specifically for the handicaps of deafness and blindness, deafness, blindness, subnormality and physical handicaps, respectively.

Mr. Dennis Howell

Of these 208 children 34 were on 31st December, 1967, in special schools, and 13 in special classes or units attached to ordinary or special schools, as follows:

21 in schools for the deaf.
3 in schools for the blind.
3 in schools for the partially hearing.
2 in schools for the deaf and the partially sighted.
2 in schools for the physically handicapped.
1 in a school for the partially sighted.
5 in units for the deaf/blind.
3 in units for the partially hearing and partially sighted.
2 in units for the partially hearing.

There were also 2 children in special schools and 3 in special classes where the category of handicap provided for was not stated.

16 children were attending junior training centres and 29 were in mental sub-normality hospitals of whom at least 7 were in the deaf-blind unit at Lee Hospital.

The majority of these children had not then reached school age.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many places are available in schools or units designed specifically for children with defects of both sight and hearing; and how many children are on a waiting list for entry to such school and units;

(2) how many local authorities either alone or in collaboration provide schools or units designed specifically for children with defects of both sight and hearing.

Mr. Denis Howell

Sixty-five places are available at present in 6 units providing specifically for children with defects of both sight and hearing; three of these units are maintained by 3 local education authorities. In December, 1967, 11 of the children included on the returns were on the waiting list for special schools or classes, including four for units providing specifically for children with defects of both sight and hearing.

I have no information about the length of the waiting list of children with defects of both sight and hearing born before 1st January, 1962.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to assist those local authorities who do not already do so, to provide special facilities for those children with defects of both sight and hearing.

Mr. Denis Howell

Because of the small number of children with defects of both sight and hearing, the majority of authorities do not need to provide special facilities but make use of those provided by other authorities or by voluntary bodies. In some cases children may be suitably placed in schools providing in the normal way for blind or for deaf pupils, or in other special schools or classes, and a few may be able to attend ordinary nurseries or schools. A conference on the needs of children with defects of both sight and hearing was organised by my Department last year and was attended by several local education authority representatives and by a number of teachers. A further short course for teachers will be held next June. As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend of 5th February, a further inquiry is being made to ascertain whether the needs of these children are being met by existing facilities and to what extent additional provision might be needed.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the 208 children born since 1962 with defects of both sight and hearing are in day schools or units or centres more than 10 miles from their homes; and how many are in boarding schools more than 50 miles from their homes.

Mr. Denis Howell

This information is not available.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the figures of Government and local authority expenditure on facilities specifically intended for the training and education of children with defects of both sight and hearing, during each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Denis Howell

This expenditure cannot be separately identified.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications for new facilities or extension of facilities for children with defects of both sight and hearing were refused during the last two years; and what was the total amount of money involved.

Mr. Denis Howell

None.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the numbers of children with defects of both sight and hearing, born before 1962 and still under school leaving age; and what provision is made for these older children in units specifically designed for those with the dual handicap.

Mr. Denis Howell

Information on which to base an estimate is not available. Places for these older children are provided in some of the special units.