HC Deb 11 June 1998 vol 313 cc698-9W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many referrals since 1 September 1994 have been made to his Department under section 99 of the Education Act 1993 and section 497 of the Education 1996 regarding failure of local education authorities to discharge their statutory duties towards children with special educational needs; and in how many cases action has been taken by his Department on behalf of parents which has resulted in local education authorities discharging their legal obligations. [45014]

Ms Estelle Morris

Since 1994, the Department has received annually some 1,500 letters from parents about special educational provision for their child. Few specify whether they are making a formal complaint under the legislation mentioned; some are complaints about a school rather than an LEA; but in every case the Department investigates the parent's concerns until it is clear either that there is no breach of a statutory duty, or appropriate remedial action has been taken, in some cases following a formal direction by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Mr. Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children in Cumbria were statemented; and what was the total funding available for their needs in each of the last 10 years. [44863]

Ms Estelle Morris

The number of statements maintained by Cumbria in January of each year was as follows:

Statements maintained in January by Cumbria—1989–1997
Year Amount
1989 1,510
1990 1,511
1991 1,708
1992 2,049
1993 2,076
1994 2,506
1995 2,660
1996 2,874
1997 2,642

Figures are taken from Cumbria Local Education Authority's returns to the Department. They include all pupils statemented by Cumbria LEA, including those placed outside Cumbria, and exclude pupils with statements maintained by other LEAs who are in Cumbria. Figures before January 1989 are not readily available.

Expenditure information is not available on a consistent basis for this period. In 1995–96, the most recent year for which Cumbria have supplied full information, their net expenditure on provision in support of pupils with statements was £11,078,000.