Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to amend the School Workforce Census to capture neurodivergence as a category distinct from disability.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The School Workforce Census (SWC) records whether staff are reported as disabled, but not the nature of their disability. As neurodivergence is not identified separately, and disclosure is voluntary, the department cannot specifically identify or analyse data on neurodivergent staff in schools.
The census is reviewed regularly to ensure balance between managing burden and risks of data collection, especially related to protected characteristics, against the value of developing policy to support the school workforce. The department has no current plans to amend the SWC to collect neurodivergence as a category distinct from disability due to expected low coverage and privacy issues and risks related the data collection.
The department continues to develop its understanding of workforce diversity. Accredited Initial Teacher Training providers must comply with equality legislation and consider making anticipatory adjustments, including providing opportunities for teacher trainee applicants to identify any support they may require. The teacher retention programme, announced in the Schools White Paper, will also include a focus on encouraging inclusive cultures.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take legislative steps against council tax on unfinished, unsold and unoccupied homes.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Council tax becomes payable on a new dwelling when the local authority determines that it has been substantially completed, or will be substantially completed within three months. It will issue a Completion Notice to confirm its decision.
Once a dwelling becomes liable for council tax, the normal council tax rules apply. Whether a property has been sold does not in itself affect its council tax status. Council tax is due on all properties, and if the property is unoccupied liability will fall to the owner. Council tax liability may be affected by a range of discounts, exemptions or premiums. Whether these apply will depend on the particular circumstances.
The Government has no plans to change these arrangements, and it is for councils to administer the council tax system. The Government remains committed to keeping all taxes and elements of the local government finance system under review.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to include data on the neurodivergent and disabled composition of the school workforce within the evidence base for the (a) SEND Improvement Plan and (b) forthcoming Schools White Paper.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan was published in March 2023 under the 2022/24 Sunak Conservative government.
Every Child Achieving and Thriving was published in February 2026. It set out the case for change across the school system and the evidence underpinning a comprehensive programme of reforms, including action to improve recruitment, retention and support for the school workforce.
The Schools White Paper and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) consultation document, published on 23 February 2026, set out our proposed changes to improve help and support for children and young people with SEND across the 0 to 25 years system. The SEND consultation ran for 12 weeks and closed on May 18. We will publish a response to the consultation in due course and bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of neurodivergent staff representation and disclosure on outcomes for neurodivergent pupils in mainstream schools.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department recognises the importance of enabling all pupils, including those who are neurodivergent, to thrive in mainstream schools. While no specific assessment has been made of how neurodivergent staff representation or disclosure affects outcomes for neurodivergent pupils, we remain committed to improving outcomes through high-quality teaching, effective special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support and inclusive school environments.
Our Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group has informed proposed SEND reforms, including National Inclusion Standards, an inclusion continuing professional development package backed by over £200 million and £3.7 billion to create more inclusive school environments.
Information about an individual's disability or neurodivergence is personal and schools must support their workforce in line with their legal obligations. Accredited ITT providers must comply with equality legislation and consider making anticipatory adjustments, including providing opportunities for teacher trainee applicants to identify any support they may require.
The School Workforce Census is regularly reviewed to ensure balance between managing burden and risks of data collection against the value of developing policy to support staff and pupils. The department has no current plans to collect neurodivergence data separately from disability data due to expected low coverage and privacy risks related to data collection.