To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many children with a learning disability received support from social services; what the net expenditure was of each social services authority in England on those children in each year since 1997–98; and what the total was for all authorities in those years; [126924](2) what the net expenditure of each social services authority in England on disabled children was in each year since 1997–98; and what the percentage change was in each year since 1997–98. [126925]

The only information available relates to a survey week in September/October 2001. The results are published in "CIN 2001 Local Authority tables: Results of a survey of activity and expenditure as reported by Local Authorities in England based on a survey in September/October 2001". The publication is available at http:// www.doh.gov.uk/cin/cin20011atables.htm.Table J shows the number of disabled children reported in the Children in Need (CIN) Census in the survey week who received a service during that week. The results are shown by local authority. The information cannot be broken down to distinguish those who have a learning disability from others.On expenditure on learning disabled children/ disabled children receiving social services during a census week in September/October 2001, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 21 July.