Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the relationship between (a) disparities in funding for schools and local authorities and (b) rates of pupil exclusion.

There is no known correlation at area level between rates of exclusion and levels of funding.

This Government has prioritised funds for the most disadvantaged pupils, including through the Pupil Premium and Pupil Premium Plus, which supports looked after children. For children and young people with more complex needs, the Department has also confirmed an additional £250 million in high needs funding over 2018-19 and 2019-20, included in the £6.3 billion total for high needs funding this year.