Children: Special Educational Needs

Debate between Lord Agnew of Oulton and Lord Morris of Handsworth

Monday 4th June 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Agnew of Oulton]

My Lords, in 2018-19 the high needs block will rise by £142 million, to a total of £6 billion across England, which is up from £5 billion in 2013. Just last week we announced an additional £50 million of capital funding, bringing the total to £265 million of capital funding, to help build new places at mainstream and special schools. I would be happy to meet the noble Lord on the specific request he makes to discuss the case and, if necessary, I will ask the Minister for Children to write to the local authority.

[Lord Morris of Handsworth (Lab)]

My Lords, there is a group of children whose interests are hardly ever mentioned in your Lordships’ House, and those are the children whose mothers are being detained in Yarl’s Wood detention centre. How are these children being educated, and what progress is being measured in respect of their detention?

[Lord Agnew of Oulton]

My Lords, I do not have that information to hand, but I am very happy to write to the noble Lord with it.