HC Deb 02 February 1971 vol 810 c335W
Mr. Scott

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment she has made of the numbers of school children requiring special educational help.

Mr. van Straubenzee

The duty to ascertain which children require special educational treatment rests with local education authorities. The number of children who are receiving, or need to receive, such treatment in ordinary schools is not known. In January, 1969, the latest date for which these figures are available, 94,401 children were receiving special education in special schools and through other forms of provision, while 13,711 children were awaiting admission to special schools.