HC Deb 08 July 2002 vol 388 cc719-20W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many autistic children are statemented in England and Wales; [65674]

(2) what estimate she has made of changes in the number of autistic children in England and Wales in the past five years. [65677]

Margaret Hodge

The information requested is not available centrally.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received in the past year from parents who have had autistic children placed in mainstream schools against their wishes. [65676]

Margaret Hodge

Parents who object to local education authority proposals to place statemented pupils in mainstream schools may appeal to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal. In the current school year the tribunal has received 123 appeals from parents who did not wish their autistic children to be educated in mainstream schools.

Margaret Hodge

The Government recognise the importance of having universities able to compete with the best in the world and support higher education institutions in their pursuit of excellence. We will encourage and support universities who wish to choose amalgamation to promote excellence within the constraints of both our powers and availabilities of resources.