§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of handicapped pupils in Wales at the most recent available date; what proportion of these are being educated in special classes and what proportion in ordinary classes; how these figures compare with similar figures for a period three years earlier or at a convenient earlier date; and whether they show any trend towards the integration of children with special needs into ordinary classes.
§ Mr. Michael RobertsThe total number of handicapped Welsh pupils at January 1981 is estimated to have been a little over 20,000. Of these, 27 per cent. were being educated in special schools or units, 36 per cent. were in special classes in primary and secondary schools and 35 per cent. were in ordinary classes in primary and secondary schools. The comparable figures for January 1978 were 33 per cent., 30 per cent. and 34 per cent. The figures show no trend towards the integration of handicapped children into ordinary classes, but they do show a trend towards the integration of handicapped children into ordinary schools in that 71 per cent. of handicapped children were being educated in ordinary schools—special and ordinary classes—in 1981 compared with 64 per cent. in 1978.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will break down the figures in his answer of 17 March, Official Report, c. 123 on handicapped pupils in Wales, 306W to show for each type of handicap, whether the pupils are being educated in (a) special classes in ordinary schools, (b) special units in ordinary schools or (c) special educational establishments.
§ Mr. Michael RobertsThe information collected on handicapped pupils in ordinary schools does not distinguish between those in special classes and those in special units. The other breakdown requested is given in the following table.
Handicapped Welsh Pupils: January 1981 Number educated in special classes or units Type of handicap Total number In ordinary schools In special schools Blind 50 7 26 Partially sighted 516 58 70 Deaf 181 8 118 Partially hearing 1,576 285 273 Physically handicapped 1,482 186 431 Delicate 1,039 35 3 Maladjusted 1,162 228 580 Educationally subnormal: Severely 2,014 219 1,707 Moderately 10,231 5,547 2,043 Epileptic 701 55 4 Speech defect 596 126 62 Autistic 66 9 55 Others 460 460 — All handicaps *20,074 7,223 †5,372 * Includes 164 pupils educated at home and 220 pupils educated outside Wales. † Includes 48 pupils educated outside Wales.