Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been spent by each local authority in the North West on education appeals tribunals; and what the value was of costs awarded to applicants in each of the last five years.

Information on local authorities’ expenditure on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) tribunals or the costs awarded to applicants to the tribunal is not held centrally. The costs of SEND tribunals will vary depending on the type of the case being heard.

There is a route for parents to submit a request for a reimbursement of costs, but these costs would only be awarded where there is clear evidence of negligence on the part of the local authority.