HC Deb 13 July 1977 vol 935 cc139-41W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what action she is taking to improve the utilisation of resources for disabled students in higher and further education;

(2) what action she is taking to encourage plans for university and college buildings to take account of the need for facilities for disabled people that she has required from chief architects of local education authorities in plans for schools and further education buildings; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Oakes

In January 1977 the Department asked local education authorities in submitting plans for school and further education building projects, to show what provision is to be made for the disabled. The Standards for School Premises Regulations 1972 and the Further Education Regulations 1975 are under review and action is being taken to include references to the provisions in the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 and to prepare and issue design guidance in these matters. The University Grants Committee issued design guidance to university building officers about the needs of the disabled in 1972 and decided that it was not necessary to make further approach along the lines of the Department's letter to local education authorities.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of institutions of higher and further education designate a member of staff to look after the interests of handicapped students; if she will advise all institutions to do so; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Oakes

My Department does not collect this information but it is known from a recent survey by Her Majesty's Inspectorate that about one-quarter of colleges in the non-university sector arrange for a member of staff to be responsible for the admission of handicapped students and most of these arrange for a member of staff to be responsible for the needs of handicapped students at the institutions. This is ft matter for the institutions themselves according to individual circumstances, but I welcome their increasing awareness of the needs in this area.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretaty of State for Education and Science what action is being taken to make schools aware of facilities for disabled pupils in establishments of higher and further education.

Miss Margaret Jackson

Apart from the usual arrangements whereby establishments of further and higher education provide information for schools and others, many colleges are establishing links with schools to ensure that the facilities available, including those for disabled students, are made known to their pupils. In addition, local authority careers and advisory services have greatly improved the quality of advice which they give to handicapped school leavers.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied that all local authorities are, where necessary, providing adequate extra allowances to enable handicapped students to pursue courses of higher and further education; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Oakes

Mandatory awards made by local education authorities include special provision to cover the needs of disabled students attending degree and similar courses. The rates of discretionary grants, including any special allowances for disabled students, are a matter for local education authorities. Local authority social services departments also provide a wide range of services in kind for students who need them.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will ask all establishments of higher and further education to give every handicapped applicant for a course the right to be interviewed on the campus.

Mr. Oakes

Admission arrangements are a matter for the individual institutions but most institutions already offer suitably qualified handicapped applicants the opportunity of such an interview on request.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what resources are available to institutions of higher and further education for the improvement of access and the provisions of special facilities for disabled students.

Mr. Oakes

These resources are, for the most part, determined locally within the total allocations available for capital projects at institutions of higher and further education. The information is not collected by my Department.