§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued to local education authorities in Wales to ensure that educational facilities for mentally handicapped children give due regard to the home language of such children.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe policy statement "Welsh in Schools" issued in July 1981 gave advice to local education authorities in respect of all pupils, including those with special educational needs, on the place of Welsh in the
Term of Leaving1 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 Autumn 940 930 1,420 1,310 1,190 870 — Spring 5,510 4,170 4,070 3,950 3,500 3,605 4,160 Summer 38,675 38,795 39,745 40,065 39,350 39,955 39,025 All leavers 45,125 43,895 45,235 45,325 44,040 44,430 43,185 Intended Destination1 Labour Market2 34,270 32,040 32,195 31,410 30,950 30,610 29,840 Of which still unemployed next March3 2,464 5,039 7,053 6,536 5,157 5,173 3,799 Full-time Education 10,855 11,855 13,040 13,915 13,090 13,820 13,345 All leavers 45,125 43,895 45,235 45,325 44,040 44,430 43,185 Notes:
1 School Leavers 10 per cent. Sample Survey. Data is therefore subject to some sampling error.
204Wschool curriculum. Welsh Office circulars 59/81 and 5/83 make the point that linguistic factors are not to be construed as a learning difficulty within the definition of the Education Act 1981, but that, in assessing a child's special educational needs, care should be taken to use a language with which the child and his parents are familiar.