§ Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he plans to undertake a study of the Education Act 1981 procedures in the pre-school period in consultation with local education authorities;
(2) what is his policy towards the allocation of teaching time in primary and secondary school staffing ratios to meet the wider range of special educational needs;
(3) if he intends to create a national advisory committee for special educational needs;
(4) if he intends to issue national guidance on the statutory provision of special education in general terms under the Education Act 1981.
§ Mr. DunnI refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 10 July 1987, at column 283.
§ Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table in the Official Report of information available to him showing expenditure on special educational provision, the number of children with special educational needs and the percentage of children with special educational needs in ordinary schools for each country in the Council of Europe for the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. DunnThe limited information available to the Department on this subject is not fully comparable between countries. It would therefore be misleading to show such a table in theOfficial Report. I shall write to the hon. Member with details.