§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many special places are available for autistic children at (i) primary and (ii) secondary level, by region;
(2) what is the total number of autistic children in maintained schools in England.
§ Mr. DunnThe information is not available. Since 1983 neither special schools nor the pupils in them have been classified in accordance with categories of handicap.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision in (i) spend, and (ii) additional places, was made for schools for the autistic in the capital allowances for local education authorities for 1988–89.
§ Mr. DunnI refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 18 December 1987 to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) setting out the allocations in respect of prescribed expenditure made to local education authorities for 1988–89. Allocations are unhypothecated and it is up to each authority to decide how to use the resources available.