§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total estimated annual cost to local education authorities of implementing the 1981 Education Act; and what is the average cost to ratepayers.
§ The Earl of SwintonI regret that this information is not available. The Act revised the statutory basis for arrangements which already existed in most areas for the educational provision for children with special educational needs and for the identification and assessment of such children. Overall it should not give rise to significant additional expenditure but it is recognised that some authorities, having reviewed their arrangements and found them inadequate by the standards set in the Act, have decided to employ additional staff. The cost of implementation falls to be met from within resources available to authorities.