HC Deb 31 October 1995 vol 265 c194W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources he has made available to promote the encouragement of liaison between parents and voluntary organisations and named persons' involvement as in accordance with the university of Edinburgh report to the Scottish Education Department on children with special educational needs. [40171]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson

The Scottish Office has committed considerable resources to the production of guidance for all those involved in the processes connected with records of needs to encourage the full involvement of parents and where appropriate voluntary organisations.

The Scottish Office publication, "A Parent's Guide to Special Educational Needs", provides relevant information and guidance for parents, including an extensive list of appropriate contacts in the voluntary sector. Further, more detailed, guidance will be published shortly.

The Scottish Office has also helped the national voluntary organisation, Children in Scotland, to establish the special needs forum, which provides information and training about special educational needs for parents and voluntary organisations. In 1994, with financial assistance from the Scottish Office, Children In Scotland published "A Special Partnership", a guidebook for named persons and parents to help them to participate more effectively in the recording processes.

Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish children with specific speech or language disorders are having their special educational needs met in residential establishments in England as a result of the lack of appropriate provision in Scotland. [40172]

Mr. Robertson

The information requested is not held centrally.