HC Deb 08 February 1993 vol 218 cc451-2W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many autistic children and adults are currently receiving specialist educational help in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Forth

This information is not available centrally. It is the responsibility of local education authorities and schools to ensure that individual autistic pupils receive the special education they require. The Department for Education and the Department of Health are currently jointly funding a research project into the education and treatment of children with autism in England and Wales.

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what specialist educational services are provided for autistic children and adults; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Forth

Local education authorities and schools have statutory responsibilities to ensure that pupils with special educational needs, including individual autistic pupils, receive appropriate special educational provision. The Department for Education and the Department of Health are currently jointly funding a research project into the education and treatment of children with autism.

Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what provisions have been made by his Department to ensure legislation regarding the special needs of autistic children and adults in education is implemented in a fair and consistent way.

Mr. Forth

The Education Bill currently before Parliament would require the Secretary of State to issue a code of practice to which local education authorities would have to have regard when carrying out their statutory duties towards children with special educational needs including those with autism. The national code will encourage consistency. The special educational needs tribunal will ensure fairness in the code's implementation.

Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what specialist education and welfare provisions are provided to ensure the specific needs of autistic children are met effectively in schools; and what steps his Department is taking to identify those who need help.

Mr. Forth

There is a range of provision available for children with autism, both in schools maintained by local education authorities and in schools run by voluntary organisations. The Department for Education and the Department of Health are currently funding a research project into the education and treatment of children with autism.