HC Deb 06 February 1969 vol 777 cc148-9W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many deaf-blind children there are in Great Britain; and what proportion is in the care of special units.

Mr. Denis Howell

Statistics showing the total number of children who combine defects of sight and hearing and of their placement are not available. A special inquiry made by my Department in December, 1967, showed that Principal School Medical Officers in England and Wales were then aware of 208 children born since 1st January, 1962, with defects of sight and hearing, of whom 44 combined deafness with blindness. Of these 208 children, the majority of whom were not of school age, 34 were placed in special schools, 13 in special classes or units, 16 in training centres, 29 in sub-normality hospitals, and 6 in ordinary schools or nurseries.

I understand that no information about the position in Scotland is at present available.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that there are adequate provisions for educating and training deaf-blind children; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Denis Howell

The education of children with defects of both sight and hearing presents particular difficulties which are of current concern to my Department. Specialist facilities are available in some half-dozen units, all but one of which are attached to special schools. In addition, in cases where one or other of the sensory defects is not too severe, children may be educated in a special school providing in the normal way for children with handicaps of either sight or hearing. My Department will shortly be asking local education authorities to bring up to date the information on deaf-blind children born since 1st January, 1962, which was given by Principal School Medical Officers in December, 1967, in order to ascertain whether the needs of these children are being met by existing facilities and to what extent additional provision may be needed. The recently appointed Committee of Inquiry into the Education of the visually handicapped will also be considering the needs of visually defective multiple-handicapped children, including the deaf-blind.