§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans his Department has to research and monitor the literary attainment of deaf children in mainstream schools and special units.
§ Mr. FallonThe Department has no plans to undertake any specific research in this area. However, unless statutory exceptions have been made, the literary attainments of deaf children in ordinary schools and special units will be assessed, as for all children, under the arrangements for the national curriculum.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance his Department has issued to inner London boroughs on the provision of special youth work provision for young deaf people to replace that previously provided by the Inner London education authority.
§ Mr. AtkinsNo special guidance has been issued to individual inner London boroughs. Following the abolition of the Inner London education authority, the Department is providing interim support of £500,000 per annum for each of the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 to the Londonwide voluntary education organisations. Friends for the Young Deaf has benefited from this arrangement, as have organisations such as SENSE, PHAB and Gateway.