asked the Minister of Education whether she will introduce legislation to enable parents to be required to make some contribution towards maintenance where children are accommodated in residential special schools.

I am not yet ready to introduce any legislative proposals, but in preparing them I will consider this suggestion along with any others that may be put to me.

Is my right hon. Friend aware, as I am sure she is, that in nonresidential schools the parents have had to contribute to maintenance as distinct from the education, and it seems unreasonable that because a child is in a residential centre the parents should make no contribution, as they would have done if the child were at a non-residential school?

I am aware of that, and as I have already said, I wish to consider the various suggestions that are put to me before I make any proposals for legislation.