§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many local education authorities have provided the Department of Education and Science with returns about the number of children on whom statements have been issued in accordance with the 1981 Education Act; and
How many children have had statements made about them in accordance with the 1981 Education Act, and what were the numbers of such children in each local education authority.
§ The Earl of SwintonThe returns from local education authorities which include this information are submitted annually. There have been two such sets of returns since the Education Act 1981 came into force on 1st April 1983. Those completed in January 1984 included a number of children who had been ascertained under the 1944 Act, and thus do not provide a satisfactory basis on which to answer the question. Returns relating to January 1985 have so far been received from 82 English authorities; 15 are outstanding. It is thus not possible at present to provide a total figure for children with statements under the 1981 Act but I shall write to the noble Baroness as soon as full details are available.