§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to reduce delays in the statementing of children; and if he will make a statement. [63940]
§ Mr. HainThe Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations 1994 set time limits for making assessments and statements of SEN. Latest Audit Commission figures, for 1996–97, show that less than half of the draft statements were prepared within the deadline. The Government are committed to improving performance on statementing. The approaches we intend to adopt will be set out in the Welsh Office Action Programme on SEN which is being prepared in the light of the consultation on "The BEST for Special Education" green paper. We will publish the programme early in the New Year.