§ 28. Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the provisions for the education of disabled children.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend is always seeking improvements as resources permit. She welcomes recent progress, which includes the completion in 1975–76 of some 8,250 special school places in England and Wales; an increase in the number of teachers in special schools of over 1,600 between January 1973 and January 1976; and increased provision for handicapped pupils in special classes in county and voluntary schools—from 11,000 to over 18,500—in the same period. The Department is currently discussing with certain local education authorities the monitoring of arrangements for the education of handicapped children in ordinary schools; and the work of the Warnock Committee continues.