§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has on the provision of funding for in-service training for teachers specialising in special needs subject areas for the years 1985–86 to 1989–90.
§ Mr. MacGregorUnder the local education authority training grants scheme and the in-service teacher training grants scheme which it replaced, funds have been made available in each of these years for the training of teachers in special needs areas. Under the previous scheme, the funding was intended to cover expenditure of about £1.98 million in 1985–86 and about £2.079 million in 1986–87 on training teachers in special educational needs in ordinary schools. Under the present scheme, the total amounts of expenditure eligible for support in the relevant national priority areas were as follows:
(£000s) 1987–88 Special needs (schools) 3,500 Special needs (further education) 500 Total 4,000 1988–89 Hearing impairments 1,500 Visual impairments 600 Severe learning difficulties 2,200 Designated teachers in ordinary schools 1,240 Special needs (further education) 600 Total 6,140 1989–90 Hearing impairments 1,700 Visual impairments 900 Severe learning difficulties 2,500 Designated teachers in ordinary schools 1,400 Special needs (further education) 600 Total 7,100