HC Deb 29 October 1990 vol 178 c377W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action is being taken by his Department to follow up the policy statement on the education of deaf-blind children.

Mr. Alan Howarth

The Department has undertaken a consultation exercise of local education authorities following the policy statement on the education of deaf-blind children. We are also proposing a joint seminar with SENSE early in 1991 to disseminate the results of the consultation exercise.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what services are available to deaf-blind students in higher education.

Mr. Alan Howarth

As autonomous bodies higher education institutions are responsible for determining what provision to make to meet the needs of students with disabilities. This is not monitored centrally. Students can obtain services individually in the light of their needs with the assistance of the disabled students allowances.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has had from local education authorities to his policy statement on the education of deaf-blind children.

Mr. Alan Howarth

To date, the Department has received 52 responses from local education authorities to the consultation exercise on the policy statement on the education of deaf-blind children.