HC Deb 13 March 1997 vol 292 cc304-5W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the summer schemes for mentally disabled children at Clifton special care school, Bangor; and what assessment he has made of the advantages of parents covering the cost of the schemes. [18756]

Mr. Ancram

There is no statutory requirement for education and library boards to provide summer schemes at special schools and my Department has no approval function to exercise. I understand that, in reaching its decision to discontinue the scheme at Clifton special school, the South Eastern education and library board took into account concerns about the safety and supervision of pupils. Any further proposals from parents should be put to the board for consideration.