§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) when he plans to hold centrally information on the number of children under the age of 10 years, by local authority area, who have been diagnosed with autism in each year since 1990; [140744]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of sufferers of autism (a) below and (b) over the age of 18 years in the years (i) 1990 and (ii) 1995; [140745]
(3) what research his Department has carried out in the last 10 years into the principles, methods and effectiveness of the Higashi school for autistic children in Boston, USA. [140748]
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§ Jacqui SmithThe diagnosis of autism and estimates of the prevalence of the condition are medical matters and questions on these issues should be directed to the Secretary of State for Health. Figures on the numbers of children identified as having special educational needs arising from autism are not held centrally.
My Department has not funded any research into the Higashi school in Boston, USA in the last 10 years, but did publish a research literature review which recorded two studies completed at the Higashi school, Boston. "Educational Interventions for Children with Autism: A Literature Review of Recent and Current Research; Jordan, Jones and Murray, 1998." A copy is in the Library.