§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give an estimate of the number of children classified as autistic in the United Kingdom who attend schools run by(a) local education authorities and (b) voluntary or charitable organisations.
§ Mr. Forth1 refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to him on 8 February,Official Report, column 454. Under the Education Act 1981 it is the responsibility of LEAs to identify and make provision for children with special educational needs, including those with autism. The Department for Education and the Department of Health are currently sponsoring a research project into the education and treatment of children with autism in England and Wales. The researchers, applying European prevalence rates to this country, estimate that there are in the region of 7,800 children with autism in England and Wales. Of these, approximately 1,000 children attend schools or units which specialise in teaching children with autism. About 400 specialist places are provided by the voluntary sector. I have today placed a copy of the report of stage 1 of the research in the Library.
§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the amount of resources and manpower that has been made available for the education and treatment of children with autism.
§ Mr. ForthThis information is not available centrally. It is the responsibility of LEAs and schools to ensure that502W individual autistic pupils receive the special education they require. The Department for Education and the Department of Health are currently sponsoring a research project into the education and treatment of children with autism in England and Wales. The second stage of the research aims to evaluate the main types of provision for young autistic children.