§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to give financial support to local education authorities setting up new educational services for deaf-blind children as recommended in his Department's policy document "Educational Provision for Deaf-Blind Children".
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe Department's policy statement encourages local education authorities to consider how to use more effectively existing special schools and units and support services to develop educational services for deaf-blind children.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage the development of training for teachers of deaf-blind children.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe Department will shortly be laying before Parliament new Education (Teachers) Regulations to come into effect on 1 September 1989. These will extend the mandatory qualification requirement to cover teachers of pupils who are both visually and hearing impaired. Training leading to an approved qualification for teaching these children will have national priority status under the local education authorities training grants scheme 1990–91.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that local education authorities respond to the recommendations in his Department's policy document on educational provision for deaf-blind children, published in March.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthDuring the coming year, the Department will be following up through regional conferences for special education what action local education authorities are taking on the policy statement.