§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many special educational needs appeals are currently lodged with his Department under section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980; what was the date on which each was received by his Department; and when he expects to give his decisions.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 27 April 1993]: My Department has before it 28 outstanding complaints under section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 made to the Secretary of State about provision for special educational needs. Of these, 24 were lodged in 1991, two in 1992 and two in 1993.
Delays have been caused by the exceptional receipt of 47 complaints in 1991 compared with the usual average of three per year.
Decisions will be issued on all oustanding cases as soon as possible. One of these cases concerns one of the hon. Member's constituents. Subject to receipt of a response awaited from the education authority I expect the decision to be made in May.