§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the number of disabled people, in(a) full-time and (b) part-time education; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BoswellThere were 11,000 full-time and 32,000 part-time students with learning difficulties and disabilities in further education colleges in England in 1991–92. Approximately 165,000 children had statements of special education needs maintained by local education authorities in England in 1991–92. Numbers of people with disabilities and learning difficulties in other sectors of education are not collected centrally.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to allow part-time disabled students to claim disabled students' allowance; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BoswellDisabled students' allowances are payable as part of a mandatory award. The Education Act 1962 restricts mandatory awards to designated full-time courses, and to certain part-time initial teacher training courses. Local education authorities can make discretionary awards for other part-time courses, including such allowances as they think fit.