§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the development of special education for blind, deaf and handicapped children; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI hope that it will be possible to announce within the next few weeks arrangements for special school building in the 1974–75 building year. My right hon. Friend plans to promote in the first half of 1975 a fresh series of regional conferences at which local education authorities will be invited to consider, with the voluntary bodies concerned, the needs for all types of handicap within their region. The long-term development of special education will be studied by the Warnock Committee, the membership of which my right hon. Friend expects to announce before long.