§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is aware of the difficulties frequently faced by disabled people in receiving education grants from local authorities either to retrain for a new profession or to add to their other educational qualifications; if she will issue a direction on this subject to all local authorities; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ThatcherOpportunities for retraining are available to disabled people under the Government's Vocational Training Scheme and the awards scheme administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Employment. I hope that all local education authorities would look sympathetically at applications for assistance from those unable to take advantage of these facilities, but this is a matter for local discretion. The needs of disabled people will be given full consideration in the Government's new Training Opportunities Scheme, announced in February by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.