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Local Government Finance

Asked by Kevin HollinrakeConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 3 March 2025UIN 32235

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the ending of the statutory override for the Dedicated Schools Grant on the financial viability of local authority budgets.

Answered by Jim McMahon

The government recognises the impact that Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits are having on councils’ finances and will continue to work with the sector on a way forward.

The government intends to set out plans for reforming the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system in further detail this year. This will include details of how we will support local authorities to deal with their historic and accruing deficits and any transition period from the current SEND system to the reformed system. This will inform any decision to remove the DSG statutory override.

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