§ Mrs. Bainasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to compile statistical information on special schools in Scotland similar to those available on primary and secondary schools in areas such as pupil-teacher ratios and staff shortages.
§ Mr. McElhoneThere are about 13,000 pupils in special schools in Scotland. For statistical purposes these pupils are considered in 10 categories of handicap for which different pupil/ teacher ratios are recommended, and special schools are divided into 17 categories. Pupil/teacher ratios for these 17 categories of school are published on a national basis in "Scottish Educational Statistics".
Educational statistics generally are under review, but the production and publication of statistics for each of these categories and for each education authority area would require considerable effort and expense and would in certain respects be misleading because of the very small numbers involved.