§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount of money to be spent for the educational needs of 525W subnormal children in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region during the present financial year; and what are the estimated amounts over each of the next three years.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasThis information is not available. It is for each local education authority in the region to determine the level of the expenditure for this purpose.
§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of mentally handicapped children for whom no form of education is provided.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasIn January 1972 there were 26,300 ESN (Severe) children attending special schools. This figure includes schools in hospitals for the mentally handicapped, where also 1,700 were receiving education in wards and 2,500 were not receiving any education. Since then responsibility for capital investment in educational premises in hospitals has been transferred to my Department. At least £4 million will be allocated for ESN (S) projects, including hospital schools, due to start in 1974–75.
§ Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the particular investigations into various aspects of the subject of handicapped children mentioned by the Under-Secretary of State on Wednesday 23rd May.
§ Mrs. ThatcherMy hon. Friend had particularly in mind the Vernon Report on the education of the visually handicapped, the Quirk Report on speech therapy services and the report of my Advisory Committee on Handicapped Children dealing with children with specific reading difficulties. In addition, I have sponsored a substantial research programme in the field of special education; and Her Majesty's inspectors and medical officers of my Department are constantly carrying out surveys and investigations of various kinds.