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Oral Answers
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6 JUNE 1989
ms assertions. I met careers guidance teachers three weeks ago and discussed their interest in ensuring the place of careers guidance within the national curriculum and was able to reassure them that this would continue.
Deaf Children
12. Mr. Boyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many deaf children have a statement of their special educational needs according to the Education Act 1981.
Mr. Butcher: In January 1988 the total number of children in England with a statement of special educational needs under the Education Act 1981 was 138,067. We do not have separate figures for deaf children.
Mr. Boyes: Is the Minister aware of the shortcomings of children with special educational needs under the statement process as spelled out by the National Deaf Children's Society report "A Mockery of Needs"? Is the Minister aware-I am sure he is that there is a need for extra resources for local authorities to ensure that all children with statements of special educational needs have access to the national curriculum? If he does not give those extra resources quickly to local authorities, will it not be just another example demonstrating that this Government simply do not care about children with special educational needs?
Mr. Butcher: No, sir, that is not so, whether measured by the amount of effort that has gone into the education of children with special needs and particular disabilities, or in terms of hard cash. In 1979-80 about £249 million was spent on maintained special schools. Our plans this year provide for £630 million at a time when there has been a reduction in the number of pupils in this category of 30,000. So there has been a real increase of 28 per cent. I have read the National Deaf Children's Society document. I stay in contact with this group, mainly through its Coventry branch. I find a lot in the document to support, in particular, the wishes of parents to be more closely involved. Not only I but the Department of Health will be responding shortly.
Mr. Favell: Is my hon. Friend aware that in certain parts of the country, there have been disputes about whether speech therapy is the responsibility of the district health authority or the education authority? Can my hon. Friend update the House on that?
Mr. Butcher: I am aware that over a period of time, the role of speech therapy, both for the overall health of the child and for the educational capability of the child, has exercised the minds of many. I cannot tell my hon. Friend today precisely what the outcome of that considerable discussion will be, but I will write to him as soon as there is a clearer statement to be made.
Mr. Ashley: Now that the pressure on school budgets is so great that it is blighting the lives of deaf children and their future carcers, will the Minister accept that it is his job to ensure that local education authorities have both the freedom and the resources to help those children?
Mr. Butcher: I dealt with the very generous provision for those categories of disability in my earlier response. May I also reassure the right hon. Gentleman on a point about which the whole House is concerned the question
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of supporting the teachers themselves in the par skills required, whether the children are rained
integrated schools or in special school la Moined
that front
alone, we are providing this year £16 million for the training of teachers of children with hearing impairments and in 1990-91, we propose to provide £1-7 million. I hope that the earlier figures that I gave will give the right hon. Gentleman the reassurance that he seeks.
PRIME MINISTER
Engagements
QI. Mr. Warren: To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 6 June.
The Prime Minister (Mrs. Margaret Thatcher): This morning, I had meetings with ministenal colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening, I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.
Mr. Warren: Will my right hon. Friend make known to the Government of China today the utter revulsion of the British people at the killing and unwarranted brutality of Chinese troops in the streets and squares of Beijing and especially at the awful actions taken against the students? Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is impossible for us to continue normal relations with China while this dreadful brutality continues and will she take action on
that?
The Prime Minister: I very much agree with my hon. Friend. Everyone who witnessed those scenes on television was afflicted with utter revulsion and outrage at what had happened and at the indiscriminate firing on people who were asking only for democratic rights. It shows that Communism stands ready to impose its will by force on innocent people and we must take that into account in our views on defence. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will be making a statement shortly on the Government's response. I agree with my hon. Friend that, clearly, normal business with the Chinese authorities cannot continue. Our first and greatest concern has to be for the people of Hong Kong, whose confidence will be very badly shaken. Qur commitment to a secure future for them is as strong as ever and we shall be looking urgently at what can be done to provide them with some reassurance.
Mr. Kinnock: Does the Prime Minister agree that the memory and meaning of one unarmed young man standing in front of a column of tanks in Beijing yesterday will remain with the British people long after the present leadership in China and what they stand for have been forgotten? Will the Prime Minister make it clear that the orders to commit mass murder given by the old men clinging to power in Beijing are unequivocally and universally condemned by the people of our country? To reinforce that message, will the Prime Minister work with our European partners to bring concerted pressure on the Chinese Government to stop the killing and to respond positively to the call for freedom being made by the people of China?
The Prime Minister: We have made our views very clear. Indeed, the whole civilised world made its views very clear in response to the scenes it saw, as did Mr. Perez de
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