To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made on the introduction of the formulation of a national policy on the provision of special education. [38790]

The Education Act 1993 requires the Secretary of State to issue a code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs. The code, which was issued in May 1994 and came into effect from September that year, gives practical guidance to local education authorities, schools and other agencies on identifying, assessing and monitoring all children with SEN. The Department is monitoring carefully the implementation of the code.