Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Birmingham Council issuing a Section 114 notice on (a) services for children with special educational needs and disabilities and (b) the processing of Education, Health and Care plan applications.

Councils are responsible for their own finances and the decision to issue a Section 114 notice is one taken locally. The issuing of a notice means the council is subject to a 21-day spending prohibition during which the council may not enter into any new spending agreement without approval by the Chief Financial Officer.

Birmingham City Council are tightening their current financial controls, and a framework will be set in place to ensure they have a complete grip, whilst ensuring that statutory and key services to children and vulnerable people are not affected because of these controls.

Departmental officials, along with colleagues from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Commissioner remain in regular contact with Birmingham City Council, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.