§ Mr. TraceyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education when he will lay before Parliament the draft code of practice giving practical guidance in respect of the discharge by local education authorities and the governing bodies of maintained schools of their functions under part III of the Education Act 1993.
§ Mr. ForthMy right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and for Wales are today laying before both Houses a draft code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs, as required under section 158 of the Education Act 1993.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I signed last week the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1994 and the Education (Special Educational Needs) (Information) Regulations 1994. These regulations are also being laid today. They have been made under powers provided by part III of the Education Act 1993 and underpin the draft code of practice.
Subject to Parliament's approval of the draft code, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education intends to publish a booklet entitled "Special Educational Needs: A Guide for Parents". This will give parents a clear explanation of how they can secure help if they believe their child has special educational needs. Copies of a draft of the guide are being placed in the Libraries. A similar guide will be prepared for issue in Wales.
My right hon. Friend is placing in the Libraries illustrative mock-ups of the proposed final design of the code of practice and the guide for parents. All the documents presented to Parliament today—the draft code of practice, the regulations and the draft guide for parents —are being made available to the Education Select Committee, the all-party disablement group and the all-party children group.