§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools for deaf children are partially closed due to shortage of staff; how many places these partial closures represent; and how many children are awaiting admission to these schools.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasIt is possible that a few schools are restricting their intake because of staff shortages, but, if so, it has not come to my notice. In January 1972, 126 deaf and 221 partially hearing children were awaiting placement in special schools.