Baroness Barran (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 27 February 2025

Debate

Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill

Contribution

My Lords, in moving Amendment 60, I will speak also to Amendment 61. These amendments seek to probe the Government’s willingness to extend the definition for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, and to test the appropriateness of the 50% threshold. Amendment 60 probes the use of the “wholly or mainly” criterion and seeks to question why the Government have chosen a 50% threshold. It appears to be a rather arbitrary number, and although in our meeting before Committee, for which I am very grateful to the Minister, he indicated there were no schools close to being just either side of that threshold, we still have concerns. I would be grateful if he could confirm again at the Dispatch Box that the Government believe there are no schools in that bracket of being close to the 50% threshold. It would obviously be helpful if the Government could publish the data that supports that. If I have misunderstood in any way, perhaps the Minister could clarify.

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