§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his best estimate of the additional costs which will fall on local education authorities in(a) England and (b) Devon in the financial year 1990–91 arising from his Department's circular 22/89 concering children with special educational needs; and on what date such additional costs were first calculated and passed to the Department of the Environment.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe purpose of circular 22/89 is to review, and advise local education authorities (LEAs) and others on, the implementation of the provisions in the Education Act 1981 on the making of assessments and statements of special educational needs, in the light of subsequent experience and events. The circular does not of itself impose substantial new burdens on LEAs; and, as paragraph 2 of the circular states, the new elements it contains are not intended to require additional expenditure.