HC Deb 13 July 1977 vol 935 cc141-2W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will make a statement on the work of the National Bureau for Handicapped Students which has been supported by her Department for the last three years;

(2) what support she intends to give to the National Bureau for Handicapped Students over the next three years; and if she will make a statement.

Miss Margaret Jackson

The National Bureau for Handicapped Students provides information on the facilities available for handicapped students in institu- tions of further and higher education and also aims to arrange appropriate specialist advice for the benefit of both institutions and students. At the time of its foundation, my Department agreed to provide an initial grant of £10,000 per year for up to three years from April 1978. A request for increased grant from April 1970 onwards has been discussed recently with the bureau and will be considered further when more detailed estimates of the bureau's future costs are available.