Thursday 29th February 2024

(9 months, 3 weeks ago)

Ministerial Corrections
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Support for Children with SEND
Rachel Hopkins Portrait Rachel Hopkins
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Every child with special educational needs or disabilities should receive the high-quality support they deserve, but schools and councils do not have the necessary resources to meet increasing demand and rising costs. What discussions is the Secretary of State having with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the funding and powers available to councils to improve SEND provision?

Gillian Keegan Portrait Gillian Keegan
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That is one reason the high-needs budget is up by over 60% in the past four years, and will reach £10.5 billion in 2024-25. We are also supporting local authorities with financial deficits through the safety valve and delivering better value programmes. In most constituencies, including in the hon. Lady’s area, the funding has gone up by 25% to 35%.

[Official Report, 29 January 2024, Vol. 744, c. 588.]

Letter of correction from the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Chichester (Gillian Keegan):

Errors have been identified in my response to the hon. Member for Luton South (Rachel Hopkins). The correct response should have been: