§ Mr. ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date his Department assumed responsibility for educating children with learning disabilities from the Department of Health and Social Security. [109172]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Education (Handicapped Children) Act 1970 removed the power of health authorities to provide training for children with learning disabilities and transferred responsibility for the education of these children to Local Education Authorities.
The Government's education policy includes a clear strategy for children with special educational needs. A cornerstone of that strategy is to develop and promote the inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools, where parents want this and appropriate support is available.
§ Mr. ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when his Department assumed responsibility for pensions of nurses and ancillary staff working in education establishments who had previously been the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Security. [109173]
§ Mr. WicksAcademic staff in the former Colleges of Health, which have transferred to the higher education sector, have been eligible for membership of the Teachers' Pension Scheme since 1992.