HC Deb 24 January 1985 vol 71 c475W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria his Department recommends to local education authorities to use to identify dyslexic children.

Mr. Dunn

The duty of local education authorities under the Education Act 1981 is not to categorise children, but to assess their individual special educational needs and to ensure that those needs are met. So far as children with specific reading difficulties are concerned, the advice given in the report of the Secretary of State's advisory committee is still valid.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now instruct his Department to collect information on children with dyslexia, both in mainstream and special schools.

Mr. Dunn

No. The Education Act 1981 deliberately seeks to avoid categorising children.