§ 37. Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about the Government's intentions to permit the integration of handicapped children in normal schools where this is requested by the child or its parents.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonIt has long been the policy of my Department that no handicapped child should attend a special school if his needs can be satisfactorily 135W met in an ordinary one; and local education authorities have been urged to involve parents in discussion about placement. But, while I rate parental choice highly, other factors, such as the capability of ordinary schools to meet the needs of handicapped children, have also to be taken into account.