§ Mr. Howeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has, following the conference on the educational needs of autistic children that was organised by his Department in November, 1964, for providing and extending special educational facilities for autistic children in light of the fact that the demand for day and residential school places for such children substantially exceeds the number of such places available.
§ Mr. CroslandIt is for local education authorities to provide additional facilities and a number are doing so, in consultation with my Department. The rate of progress depends upon the rate at which greater numbers of professional staff become available to deal with all forms of mental and emotional disturbance in children. A diversity of views still exists on the needs of children with autistic symptoms, but we have been much assisted by the conference in advising on individual proposals.
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§ Mr. Howeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to sponsor and establish a residential school for autistic children to supplement the educational facilities for such children that are already available in the school established by the Society for Autistic Children and prospectively available in the school planned by the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children.
§ Mr. CroslandIt is for local education authorities to see that special schools are available for handicapped pupils, including those with autistic symptoms. I welcome new proposals in this field and will give sympathetic consideration to any suitable project put to me.