Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number of occasions on which local authorities failed to implement an order of the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) within the applicable time limit under regulation 44 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) local authority, (b) type of order, (c) length of delay and (d) whether the appeal had been conceded by the local authority.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
It is essential that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the provision specified in their education, health and care plan, and that local authorities meet their statutory responsibilities, including complying with SEND Tribunal orders.
The department has never collected the data requested. However, as part of our SEND reforms, we set out proposals to improve parental confidence that local authorities will act on Tribunal judgments and to ensure that improvements are made to future decision-making. This includes publishing an annual SEND Tribunal outcomes dashboard, providing anonymised outcomes of SEND Tribunals by local authority.
We are currently considering all consultation feedback and will publish final proposals in due course.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many representations her Department received in each of the last three years concerning an alleged failure by a local authority to (a) secure provision required under section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and (b) comply with a SEND Tribunal order; in how many such cases her Department took action under sections 496 or 497 of the Education Act 1996; and if she will publish that information by local authority.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
It is essential that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the provision specified in their education, health and care plan, and that local authorities meet their statutory responsibilities, including complying with SEND Tribunal orders.
The department has never collected the data requested. However, as part of our SEND reforms, we set out proposals to improve parental confidence that local authorities will act on Tribunal judgments and to ensure that improvements are made to future decision-making. This includes publishing an annual SEND Tribunal outcomes dashboard, providing anonymised outcomes of SEND Tribunals by local authority.
We are currently considering all consultation feedback and will publish final proposals in due course.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number of children and young people with education, health and care plans for whom the special educational provision specified in section F of their plan was not secured in full for more than (a) four weeks, (b) one school term and (c) two school terms in each of the last three academic years by (i) local authority, (ii) type of provision and (iii) placement type.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Once a local authority issues a final education, health and care plan it is under a duty to secure the special educational provision set out in the plan. Parents of a child or a young person have the right to complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman if they believe the local authority is failing to secure that provision.
The department does not collect any of the data requested.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number of children and young people with education, health and care plans who did not have an appropriate education placement available at the beginning of the academic year in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) local authority, (b) length of time without a placement, (c) whether interim education was provided, (d) average weekly hours of interim education and (e) whether the child subsequently received education otherwise than at school; and if she will publish that data, including for West Sussex.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Once a local authority issues an education, health and care (EHC) plan naming a setting of a type specified in section 43 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (such as a state school), that setting must admit the child or young person.
The department has consulted on proposals to strengthen the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system so all children and young people with SEND have their needs met through high-quality support. We want children and young people to be able to learn at an education setting close to their home, alongside their peers. We are carefully reviewing all responses submitted to the consultation, which closed in May, alongside feedback from over 200 engagement events we held. We will set out our response in due course. The department has also launched a consultation on 10 July seeking views on how the government can better support children and young people receiving education otherwise than at school, to ensure they receive the right support for their wellbeing and long term outcomes.
The department does not collect data on children or young people with an EHC plan who are awaiting a placement in the setting named on their plan.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data the Department holds on enforcement operations against retail premises suspected of selling illicit tobacco products or non-compliant nicotine products in each of the last three years, including the number of (a) premises searched, (b) arrests made, and (c) premises closed, broken down by (i) England and Wales, (ii) West Sussex, and (iii) Bognor Regis and Littlehampton constituency.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes estimates of the tobacco tax gap, including revenue lost through the illicit trade in cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, in the annual Measuring Tax Gaps publication. The latest tax gap figures are available for 2024 25 tax year.
HMRC does not routinely collect or publish data on the number of retail premises suspected of selling illicit tobacco products. Although HMRC records information on illicit tobacco investigations, those investigations are not routinely categorised by linked criminality type.
HMRC recognises that the illicit tobacco trade is linked to organised criminality and can cause significant social and economic harm to local communities. HMRC works closely with law enforcement partners to target and disrupt organised crime groups involved in the illicit tobacco supply chain. The joint HMRC and Border Force strategy, Stubbing out the problem, published in 2024, sets out the government's approach to reducing demand for illicit tobacco and tackling the organised crime groups that dominate the market.
HMRC publishes annual outputs for tackling tobacco smuggling on GOV.UK, including data for 2025–26. Detail on outputs from Operation CeCe, our joint initiative with Trading Standards to tackle illicit tobacco at local retail level, can be found in the 2025-26 Annual Report and Accounts.
I refer the Honourable Member to the answers provided to UIN 128189, UIN 107092, and UIN 84365 for more information.
Data is not produced for localised geographical areas and therefore is not available for West Sussex or for the Bognor Regis and Littlehampton constituency.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data the Department holds on investigations involving illicit tobacco or nicotine products in which there were also suspected links to (a) drug trafficking, (b) modern slavery or human trafficking, (c) fraud, and (d) money laundering in each of the last three years, broken down by (i) England and Wales and (ii) West Sussex.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes estimates of the tobacco tax gap, including revenue lost through the illicit trade in cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, in the annual Measuring Tax Gaps publication. The latest tax gap figures are available for 2024 25 tax year.
HMRC does not routinely collect or publish data on the number of retail premises suspected of selling illicit tobacco products. Although HMRC records information on illicit tobacco investigations, those investigations are not routinely categorised by linked criminality type.
HMRC recognises that the illicit tobacco trade is linked to organised criminality and can cause significant social and economic harm to local communities. HMRC works closely with law enforcement partners to target and disrupt organised crime groups involved in the illicit tobacco supply chain. The joint HMRC and Border Force strategy, Stubbing out the problem, published in 2024, sets out the government's approach to reducing demand for illicit tobacco and tackling the organised crime groups that dominate the market.
HMRC publishes annual outputs for tackling tobacco smuggling on GOV.UK, including data for 2025–26. Detail on outputs from Operation CeCe, our joint initiative with Trading Standards to tackle illicit tobacco at local retail level, can be found in the 2025-26 Annual Report and Accounts.
I refer the Honourable Member to the answers provided to UIN 128189, UIN 107092, and UIN 84365 for more information.
Data is not produced for localised geographical areas and therefore is not available for West Sussex or for the Bognor Regis and Littlehampton constituency.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data the Department holds on the number of retail premises suspected of selling illicit tobacco products or non-compliant nicotine products in (a) England and Wales, (b) West Sussex, and (c) Bognor Regis and Littlehampton constituency; and how many of those premises are suspected of links to organised crime groups.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes estimates of the tobacco tax gap, including revenue lost through the illicit trade in cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, in the annual Measuring Tax Gaps publication. The latest tax gap figures are available for 2024 25 tax year.
HMRC does not routinely collect or publish data on the number of retail premises suspected of selling illicit tobacco products. Although HMRC records information on illicit tobacco investigations, those investigations are not routinely categorised by linked criminality type.
HMRC recognises that the illicit tobacco trade is linked to organised criminality and can cause significant social and economic harm to local communities. HMRC works closely with law enforcement partners to target and disrupt organised crime groups involved in the illicit tobacco supply chain. The joint HMRC and Border Force strategy, Stubbing out the problem, published in 2024, sets out the government's approach to reducing demand for illicit tobacco and tackling the organised crime groups that dominate the market.
HMRC publishes annual outputs for tackling tobacco smuggling on GOV.UK, including data for 2025–26. Detail on outputs from Operation CeCe, our joint initiative with Trading Standards to tackle illicit tobacco at local retail level, can be found in the 2025-26 Annual Report and Accounts.
I refer the Honourable Member to the answers provided to UIN 128189, UIN 107092, and UIN 84365 for more information.
Data is not produced for localised geographical areas and therefore is not available for West Sussex or for the Bognor Regis and Littlehampton constituency.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on maintaining (a) a named accountable case officer, (b) continuity of communication with families and (c) a single written action plan where a child’s education, health and care plan is simultaneously subject to Tribunal proceedings, complaints, placement commissioning and outstanding provision; and whether those requirements will be included in the revised SEND Code of Practice and National Inclusion Standards.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The statutory guidance on the education, health and care plan system, the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice 2015, explains expectations on local authorities for working with families. The code also reflects a range of statutory duties on local authorities about how they must communicate their decisions to families and provide them with information and support.
The department has consulted on a range of proposals to strengthen the SEND system. We are carefully reviewing all responses submitted to the consultation alongside feedback from engagement events. We will set out our response in due course.