Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of additional funding required for SEND support in schools in Devon.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.
Overall schools funding is increasing by £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year and will total over £64.8 billion, compared to almost £61.6 billion in 2024/25. Within that total there is an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year. This brings total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to over £12 billion. Of that total, Devon County Council is being allocated over £125 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £8.9 million on their 2024/25 DSG high needs block.
Mainstream schools are expected to contribute from their budgets to the cost of supporting their pupils with SEND up to a cost threshold of £6,000 per pupil per annum. Local authorities support schools with SEND support costs in excess of that threshold, using funds from their high needs budgets. Nevertheless, the government recognises that the rising costs of SEND provision are putting a strain on local government and school finances. The government is considering, as part of the current spending review due to conclude in June, the funding and changes required in future years, to ensure that high-quality services for children and young people with SEND can be delivered in a financially sustainable way.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase SEND funding in Devon.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.
Overall schools funding is increasing by £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year and will total over £64.8 billion, compared to almost £61.6 billion in 2024/25. Within that total there is an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year. This brings total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to over £12 billion. Of that total, Devon County Council is being allocated over £125 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £8.9 million on their 2024/25 DSG high needs block.
Mainstream schools are expected to contribute from their budgets to the cost of supporting their pupils with SEND up to a cost threshold of £6,000 per pupil per annum. Local authorities support schools with SEND support costs in excess of that threshold, using funds from their high needs budgets. Nevertheless, the government recognises that the rising costs of SEND provision are putting a strain on local government and school finances. The government is considering, as part of the current spending review due to conclude in June, the funding and changes required in future years, to ensure that high-quality services for children and young people with SEND can be delivered in a financially sustainable way.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with local authorities in (a) rural areas and (b) Devon on (i) reducing the time taken for patients to be seen by and (ii) expanding SEND hubs.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The department has worked closely with statutory partners in Devon since the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspection in May 2022, which found insufficient progress on four significant weaknesses identified in the previous inspection in 2018, including the timeliness and quality of education, health and care (EHC) plans. In response, an improvement notice was issued in September 2022, and an Accelerated Progress Plan was developed with Devon County Council and the integrated care board. The department and NHS England have deployed SEND advisers to support the local area.
Formal monitoring meetings are held with Devon County Council and partners, including on EHC plans and assessment timeliness. While recent monitoring meetings have shown some improvements, substantial progress is still needed to ensure all children and families receive the support they need and deserve.
Many children and young people with SEND continue to face challenges in accessing suitable school placements close to home.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has published allocations for £740 million high needs capital in the 2025/26 financial year to support children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision, with over £11 million high needs capital funding allocated to Devon County Council. This can be used to make classrooms more accessible and create specialist facilities in mainstream schools for intensive support, alongside continuing to provide places to support pupils in special schools with the most complex needs.
The department is working closely with Devon County Council to consider proposals for an increase resourced provision in Devon as part of the local authority’s approach to SEND sufficiency.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she will take to ensure that the proposed pay award for teachers does not adversely impact (a) staffing levels and (b) educational provision.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The overall core schools budget (CSB) is increasing by £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, meaning the CSB will total over £64.8 billion.
Final decisions on the teachers’ pay award for 2025 will be made following recommendations from the independent School Teacher Review Body (STRB). We have received the STRB’s report and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the National Funding Formula on (a) rural areas and (b) Devon.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The purpose of the national funding formula (NFF) is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of all their pupils.
Through the dedicated schools grant (DSG), Devon local authority is receiving over £560.1 million for mainstream schools in financial year 2025/26, or £6,195 per pupil on average (excluding growth and falling rolls funding). This represents a 2.4% increase in per pupil funding compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.
The NFF accounts for the particular challenges faced by small schools in rural areas through the lump sum and sparsity factor. All schools attract a lump sum of £145,100 which provides a fixed amount of funding that is unrelated to pupil-led factors. Additionally, eligible primary schools attract up to £57,400, and all other schools up to £83,400, in sparsity funding in financial year 2025/26. Through the 2025/26 NFF, 148 schools in Devon attract sparsity funding.
We will review the schools NFF for 2026/27 and beyond to ensure that we get any changes right, recognising the importance of a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to increase per-pupil funding in Devon to the national average.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The purpose of the national funding formula (NFF) is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of all their pupils.
Through the dedicated schools grant (DSG), Devon local authority is receiving over £560.1 million for mainstream schools in financial year 2025/26, or £6,195 per pupil on average (excluding growth and falling rolls funding). This represents a 2.4% increase in per pupil funding compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.
The NFF accounts for the particular challenges faced by small schools in rural areas through the lump sum and sparsity factor. All schools attract a lump sum of £145,100 which provides a fixed amount of funding that is unrelated to pupil-led factors. Additionally, eligible primary schools attract up to £57,400, and all other schools up to £83,400, in sparsity funding in financial year 2025/26. Through the 2025/26 NFF, 148 schools in Devon attract sparsity funding.
We will review the schools NFF for 2026/27 and beyond to ensure that we get any changes right, recognising the importance of a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will introduce a statutory obligation for water companies in special measures to prioritise environmental repair in their restructuring plans.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers and officials have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, and representatives, on various issues, including issues related to the water sector in England.
As part of our Plan for Change, we have delivered on our promise to put water companies under special measures through our landmark Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (WSMA). In addition to providing the regulators with the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade, the WSMA also introduces new reporting requirements to improve transparency around water company operations. This includes:
Ofwat, as the independent economic regulator for the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales, has a duty to ensure water companies comply with their statutory obligations and are adequately financed. This includes both environmental and financial obligations.
Where Ofwat assesses companies have failed to meet their statutory or licence obligations, Ofwat have the power to take enforcement action, through an enforcement order or financial penalty (up to 10% of a company’s annual turnover).
We have overseen the launch of an Independent Commission into the water sector and its regulation, in what is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. The Independent Commission will review the roles and responsibilities of the water industry regulators; once the Commission has made recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments, both will respond and consult on proposals, including potential legislation.
A Special Administration Regime (SAR) enables a company which provides vital public services (e.g. water, energy, rail) to be put into administration in certain circumstances, to ensure that the public service will continue to be provided pending rescue (via a means such as debt restructuring) or transfer (via a sale) to new owners.
A water company in special administration would be subject to the same regulations as the rest of the sector. This includes following its statutory and environmental obligations.
We expect that following the conclusion of a SAR Government would recoup the funds it had spent financing it through the sale of the water company, with Government funding provided during a SAR taking priority for repayment before most other creditors.
On reporting during an administration, Ofwat monitors the financial position of all water companies and takes action to enable water companies and their investors to strengthen their long-term financial resilience within the context of their licence and broader statutory obligations.
Within a SAR a company would to be subject to the same regulatory requirements, and annual account publication requirements as any other water company. The company’s performance will also continue to be monitored and published by Ofwat and the Environment Agency.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will require additional public reporting from water companies placed into (a) special measures or (b) special administration.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers and officials have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, and representatives, on various issues, including issues related to the water sector in England.
As part of our Plan for Change, we have delivered on our promise to put water companies under special measures through our landmark Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (WSMA). In addition to providing the regulators with the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade, the WSMA also introduces new reporting requirements to improve transparency around water company operations. This includes:
Ofwat, as the independent economic regulator for the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales, has a duty to ensure water companies comply with their statutory obligations and are adequately financed. This includes both environmental and financial obligations.
Where Ofwat assesses companies have failed to meet their statutory or licence obligations, Ofwat have the power to take enforcement action, through an enforcement order or financial penalty (up to 10% of a company’s annual turnover).
We have overseen the launch of an Independent Commission into the water sector and its regulation, in what is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. The Independent Commission will review the roles and responsibilities of the water industry regulators; once the Commission has made recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments, both will respond and consult on proposals, including potential legislation.
A Special Administration Regime (SAR) enables a company which provides vital public services (e.g. water, energy, rail) to be put into administration in certain circumstances, to ensure that the public service will continue to be provided pending rescue (via a means such as debt restructuring) or transfer (via a sale) to new owners.
A water company in special administration would be subject to the same regulations as the rest of the sector. This includes following its statutory and environmental obligations.
We expect that following the conclusion of a SAR Government would recoup the funds it had spent financing it through the sale of the water company, with Government funding provided during a SAR taking priority for repayment before most other creditors.
On reporting during an administration, Ofwat monitors the financial position of all water companies and takes action to enable water companies and their investors to strengthen their long-term financial resilience within the context of their licence and broader statutory obligations.
Within a SAR a company would to be subject to the same regulatory requirements, and annual account publication requirements as any other water company. The company’s performance will also continue to be monitored and published by Ofwat and the Environment Agency.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of creating a young cancer patient travel fund.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to the Hon. Member for North Cornwall on 24 April 2025 to Question 46605.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings officials in his Department have held with (a) investor groups, (b) asset managers and (c) shareholder representatives with interests in UK water companies since July 2024.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers and officials have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, and representatives, on various issues, including issues related to the water sector in England.
As part of our Plan for Change, we have delivered on our promise to put water companies under special measures through our landmark Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 (WSMA). In addition to providing the regulators with the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade, the WSMA also introduces new reporting requirements to improve transparency around water company operations. This includes:
Ofwat, as the independent economic regulator for the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales, has a duty to ensure water companies comply with their statutory obligations and are adequately financed. This includes both environmental and financial obligations.
Where Ofwat assesses companies have failed to meet their statutory or licence obligations, Ofwat have the power to take enforcement action, through an enforcement order or financial penalty (up to 10% of a company’s annual turnover).
We have overseen the launch of an Independent Commission into the water sector and its regulation, in what is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. The Independent Commission will review the roles and responsibilities of the water industry regulators; once the Commission has made recommendations to the UK and Welsh governments, both will respond and consult on proposals, including potential legislation.
A Special Administration Regime (SAR) enables a company which provides vital public services (e.g. water, energy, rail) to be put into administration in certain circumstances, to ensure that the public service will continue to be provided pending rescue (via a means such as debt restructuring) or transfer (via a sale) to new owners.
A water company in special administration would be subject to the same regulations as the rest of the sector. This includes following its statutory and environmental obligations.
We expect that following the conclusion of a SAR Government would recoup the funds it had spent financing it through the sale of the water company, with Government funding provided during a SAR taking priority for repayment before most other creditors.
On reporting during an administration, Ofwat monitors the financial position of all water companies and takes action to enable water companies and their investors to strengthen their long-term financial resilience within the context of their licence and broader statutory obligations.
Within a SAR a company would to be subject to the same regulatory requirements, and annual account publication requirements as any other water company. The company’s performance will also continue to be monitored and published by Ofwat and the Environment Agency.