§ Ms RyanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he proposes to undertake a review of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal. [95680]
§ Jacqui SmithIn accordance with the Government's policy of conducting quinquennial reviews of all non-departmental public bodies, the Department is launching today, in conjunction with the National Assembly for Wales, a review of the Special Educational636W Needs Tribunal. Following Cabinet office guidelines, the first stage of the review will take the form of a "prior options" study with the following terms of reference:
to review the functions of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal, and the likely future need for those functions;to consider the powers, remit, constitutional status, membership and activities of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal;to consider whether, on efficiency grounds, some or all of the functions of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal can be carried out within an alternative organisational framework including by another public, private or voluntary body or otherwise within government;to review the efficiency and effectiveness of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal in carrying out its functions.The review will have particular regard to:the overriding objective that special educational provision should meet the needs of individual children; andcompliance with the Human Rights Act 1998.We should welcome comments on those matters to be covered by the review from all those with an interest in the work of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal. Comments, which may be made public unless respondents specifically request otherwise, should be sent by 15 January 2000 to:
- Mrs. Susan Ashford
- Special Educational Needs Division
- Department for Education and Employment
- Sanctuary Buildings
- Great Smith Street
- Westminster
- London SW IP 3BT.
The review should be completed by 29 April 2000. The findings will be published and made available to Parliament.