§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children and adults have been recorded as autistic by each local education authority; what special provision is made by them to cater for their special needs; and what contribution is made by his Department and by charitable bodies.
§ Mr. ButcherThis information is not available. School children in England have not been classified in accordance with categories of handicap since 1983 and further education students have never been so classified. LEAs must make provision for all schoolchildren with special educational needs in accordance with the Education Act 1981. This provision may include placement in one of 14 independent schools in England which are run by the National Autistic Society or local autistic societies. In securing adequate facilities for further education in their areas, LEAs must have regard to the requirements of persons with learning difficulties. A two-year research project into autism, funded jointly by my Department and the Department of Health, began on 1 May 1987.