HC Deb 19 January 1988 vol 125 cc624-5W
41. Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to increase the level of expenditure on the teaching of children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dunn

My right hon. Friend announced last November that the Government would be providing for local education authorities to spend nearly £13.9 billion on education in 1988–89. Within this figure some £570 million is being provided for special education. We also announced recently an increase in the amount of Government grant available to local education authorities in 1988–89 to support in-service training for teachers and others in the education service. With that support, LEAs propose to spend £9.8 million next year on training to meet the needs of pupils with disabilities of sight and of hearing and severe learning difficulties, and training for "designated" teachers to meet special educational needs in ordinary schools. The comparable figure for 1987–88 is estimated at £7.1 million.

51. Ms. Gordon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to increase the level of funding for the integration of children with special educational needs into mainstream school classes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dunn

My right hon. Friend does not determine the level of funding for children with special educational needs who are integrated into mainstream classes. That is a matter for individual local education authorities. Where the child has a statement, the authority is under a duty to provide for all the identified educational needs of that child. In general, resource allocation is a matter for local priorities.