§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many handicapped children are now on the waiting list for places at special schools; and if he will break down the figures giving the numbers for different types of schools and for different age groups.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerThe information is available only by types of handicap and for two different age groups. The numbers on waiting lists in England and Wales in January 1975 were as follows:
Under five years of age Aged five years and over Blind 46 33 Partially sighted 60 115 Deaf 50 62 Partially hearing 103 135 Physically handicapped 327 446 Delicate 25 520 Maladjusted 7 2,197 Educationally sub-normal: Medium 257 5,601 Severe 849 708 Epileptic 3 57 With speech defects 17 88 Autistic 2 33 1,746 9,995 Total 11,741