§ Mr. Clemitsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places are available in educational units in England and Wales which are specially concerned with the teaching of autistic children; and how many autistic children of school age there are in England and Wales.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThere are nearly 1,000 places in England and Wales in schools and units provided exclusively for autistic children; a few autistic children also are placed in other schools which cater, though not exclusively, for this disability. Returns from local education authorities in 1971–72 showed a total of 1,470 autistic children in England and Wales. Annual returns were introduced this year, but the 1974 figures will not be available until later in the year.