§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has of the numbers of deaf-blind children in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. DunnI refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 November at column 375. This information should be available when the analysis of responses to the questionnaire which accompanied the Department's consultative document on educational provision for deaf-blind children is complete.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to make a statement on the educational needs of deaf-blind children.
§ Mr. DunnMy right hon. Friend hopes that the final version of the Department's policy statement on educational provision for deaf-blind children will be published in the new year.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many replies he has received to the consultative document about the numbers of deaf-blind children within each local education authority.
§ Mr. DunnSeventy-nine — four out of 97 — local education authorities in England replied to the questionnaire which accompanied the Department's consultative document. In addition, 42 replies were received in response to the points raised in the consultative document itself.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to meet officials of SENSE, the National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association, to discuss the educational needs of deaf-blind children; and if he will make a statement.