§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what proportion of hearing-impaired children in (a) special schools and (b) hearing-impaired units continue with further education after the age of 16 years; and if he will give what information he has regarding the percentages taking up the various types of further education;
(2) how many local education authorities are charging the parents of hearing-impaired young people for board and lodging costs incurred because the young people have to stay away from home, because there are no suitable courses with support facilities locally;
(3) how many hearing-impaired young people are on further education courses; how many of these are on specialist residential courses; and what proportion are being charged for some or all of their board and lodging costs by the local education authority.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThis information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will request local education authorities to provide him with information on the extent and nature of the provision that is made to meet the special needs of hearing-impaired students at the further education colleges for which they are responsible;
(2) if he will take steps to maintain a central list of colleges and universities which make special provision for the particular needs of hearing-impaired students, including information on the availability of (i) radio hearing aids, (ii) note takers, (iii) additional tutorials, (iv) help with language from a teacher of the deaf, (v) full or part-time educational interpreting into sign language and (vi) courses especially for hearing-impaired students.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Department has commissioned a survey of the provision being made on 1 November 1985 for students with special educational needs in all maintained, assisted and grant-aided institutions of further and higher education. The survey report will offer a summary on a national basis of information about provision for the hearing-impaired under the headings suggested by the right hon. Member and I shall send him a copy when the report is available later in the year. The Department does not require for its own purposes to hold a record of information relating to individual colleges but such information should be obtainable from individual local education authorities. So far as the universities are concerned, I would refer the right hon. Member to the6W reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science on 13 March at column 539.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about charging the parents of hearing-impaired children aged over 16 years for board and lodgings costs which arise because no appropriate further education opportunities are available within the county boundaries, and the children have to continue their education elsewhere; and what replies he has given.
§ Mr. Chris PattenMy right hon. Friend is currently considering complaints on this subject from the parents of six young people over the age of 16 with hearing impairment. Each case of this kind has to be considered individually in consultation with the authority concerned and my right hon. Friend, though he is aware of the need to resolve such cases as quickly as possible, is not yet in a position to offer replies to the parents.