§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his reply of 10 November to the hon. Member for Monklands, West,Official Report, column 138, whether he is now in a position to make a further statement on the implementation of section 13 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Representation and Consultation) Act 1986.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythFollowing discussion with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, my right hon. and learned Friend has decided to implement section 13 of the Act from 1 February 1988.
The first group of disabled school children to receive statutory assessment by local authority social work departments under the terms of section 13 will effectively be those reaching the statutory school leaving age in 1990. Local authorities will be able to decide for themselves how far they can apply the new arrangements on a non-statutory basis to children and young persons who may leave school before then.
These arrangements will improve considerably the transition from special education to other forms of provision, and will be of material benefit to disabled children at this critical stage of their lives.