§ Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there are statistics available as to the number of children diagnosed as autistic in England and Wales at the present time.
§ Mr. ArmstrongIn 1971–72 special returns from LEAs showed a total of 1,470 autistic children in England and Wales. Annual returns have been introduced this year for the first time but the 1974 figures are not yet available.
§ Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many voluntary aided and how many maintained schools in England and Wales provide education solely for children defined as autistic.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThree special schools and 29 units of this kind are maintained by local education authorities. There are no equivalent non-maintained special schools, but there are 10 independent schools run by voluntary bodies.