HC Deb 26 February 1993 vol 219 cc742-3W
Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the latest statistics on the number of disabled students in further and higher education; and what future resources will be allocated to encourage more disabled people to enter these.

Mr. Boswell

A total of 42,000 students with learning difficulties and disabilities enrolled on further education courses on 1 November 1991. Information on the number of such students in higher education is not held centrally. My right hon. Friend's initial guidance to the further and higher education funding councils emphasised the need to facilitate access to further and higher education for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. Both the councils are taking account of the particular needs of these students in their allocation of resources to institutions.