HC Deb 13 June 1974 vol 874 cc613-4W
Mr. Arnold Shaw

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many trained teachers for autistic children are at present in post; how many are in training; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gerry Fowler

Information is not collected in this form. No teachers are trained exclusively for work with autistic children, who are in many cases educated alongside those with other handicaps. At present about 690 teachers are attending one-year courses of in-service training in the education of the handicapped. On some courses it is possible for a student to make a specialist study of autism and some consideration of the subject is given on most.