asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why expenditure on special education is projected to fall by 8·42 per cent. between 1984–85 and 1986–87.

The Government's plans for the distribution between services of local authority current expenditure in 1986–87 are provisional; and hence the projection of special schools expenditure within the education total is also provisional. A reduction in real terms expenditure is projected to occur partly because the number of pupils in special schools is falling. The Government also believe that there is some scope for reducing expenditure per pupil; it is encouraging the rationalisation of special schools in the interests of better education and a more effective deployment of resources.