HL Deb 23 November 1983 vol 445 c339WA
Baroness Gardner

of Parkes asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much is being spent in the present financial year on special schools and other educational provision for the physically and mentally handicapped.

The Earl of Swinton

Expenditure on physically and mentally handicapped pupils is not separately recorded. Most of it will be in special schools and some in ordinary schools. The outturn of expenditure for the present financial year will not be available until late in 1984, but on the basis of local authorities' budget estimates, expenditure by local education authorities on special schools will amount to some £405 million in 1983–84. In addition, authorities are budgeting to spend some £60 million on transport from home to school for pupils attending special schools and some £95 million in fees for handicapped pupils educated at independent and non-maintained schools.