Mike Martin

Mike Martin

Liberal Democrat — Tunbridge Wells

Speaking in the House of Commons on 23 February 2026

Debate

Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving

Contribution

I congratulate the Secretary of State on the White Paper. She clearly cares about this, which bodes well for the outcome. For too long, the cost of SEND support has fallen on local authorities, and that has had a knock-on effect on the other services they provide, such as libraries and roads. It now seems—if I am reading this right—that much SEND cost will come back to the DFE. What does that mean for local authority budgets? Will they be raided, and will that money be brought across to the DFE, or will those budgets be kept the same?

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