§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in theOfficial Report the annual amount paid by his Department on research into autistic problems in education for each year over the 426W past eight years indicating the local education authorities to which it was paid, the research projects involved and the number of teachers specially trained as teachers for autistic children.
§ Mr. DunnNo research into the educational aspects of autism has been funded over the past eight years. There are no specific qualifications for teaching autistic children.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in theOfficial Report those local education authorities which have(a) special schools,(b) centres or(c) special arrangements for the teaching of autistic children, indicating which provide boarding accommodation.
§ Mr. DunnThe information is not available. Since 1983 special schools have not been classified in accordance with the categories of the handicap of the pupils for which they cater. No central record is maintained of centres or other arrangements for teaching children with special educational needs.