← Back to House of Commons Debates
Backbench Business
13 April 2026
Lead MP
Gregory Stafford
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
EmploymentChildren & Families
Other Contributors: 30
At a Glance
Gregory Stafford raised concerns about backbench business in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Mr Stafford moved that the House believes SEND is an [2D [K an issue affecting every constituency, acknowledges challenges families fac [3D [K face in navigating a complex and under-resourced system, and supports refor [5D [K reforms that strengthen legal protections, improve delivery on the ground, [K and address underlying pressures. He criticised the Government's White Pape [4D [K Paper for not meeting these criteria and failing to engage meaningfully wit [3D [K with parents and representative organisations.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Mr Shannon asked why there are more children with specia [6D [K special needs today than in the past, highlighting that when he was a child [5D [K child such cases were less common.
Mr Khan agreed with Mr Stafford's arguments and pointed [K out that financial cuts to transport for SEND children exacerbate the probl [5D [K problem of support quality.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
The current system for supporting children with special [K educational needs and disabilities is failing, causing distress to families [8D [K families. The system relies on parents battling at every step to secure the [3D [K the necessary support, which is an exclusionary and inequitable practice. H [1D [K Helen Hayes emphasises that accountability is crucial in reforming the syst [4D [K system, as are early identification of needs, inclusive mainstream schools, [8D [K schools, increased funding, and involvement of parents in decision-making p [1D [K processes. She also highlights concerns from parents about the proposed cha [3D [K changes, particularly regarding the scaling back of EHC assessments and EHC [3D [K EHCPs, which may undermine accountability.
Rachel Blake
Conservativ [12D [K (Conservative
Cities of London and Westminster
Intervened to express concern over exclusions for childr [6D [K children with special educational needs and disabilities. Rachel Blake seek [4D [K seeks clarity on how the proposed system will ensure accountability and pre [3D [K prevent trauma from exclusionary practices.
Asked Helen Hayes about the concerns of a constituent, O [1D [K Olivia, who is battling to keep her son in mainstream education. Luke Chart [5D [K Charters emphasises the importance of quick implementation of individual su [2D [K support plans (ISPs) to avoid distress for families trying to maintain thei [4D [K their children in mainstream settings.
Stella Creasy
Lab
Walthamstow
Asked Helen Hayes about the concerns raised by parents r [1D [K regarding exclusions and trauma. Stella Creasy is interested in understandi [11D [K understanding how accountability will work in the future system to address [K these issues.
Ashley Dalton
Lab
West Lancashire
Children in West Lancashire have previously felt let dow [3D [K down by the SEND system. The Government's plans include a vast increase in [K specialist places and training for teachers, which will make a real differe [7D [K difference to children and families. However, it is crucial that the change [6D [K changes do not inadvertently move fights from one place to another or weake [5D [K weaken parents' rights under current legislation. Dalton cites examples of [K local authority failures and calls on the Minister to ensure that reforms s [1D [K support SEND children and their families as much as possible.
Andrew George
Lib Dem
St Ives
George responds to Dalton's speech, highlighting concern [7D [K concerns about the number of tribunals required for parents to get proper e [1D [K education for their children with SEND. He also raises issues regarding aut [3D [K authorities failing to meet the 20-week EHCP target, which results in many [K pupils not getting the services they need.
Stella Creasy
Lab
Walthamstow
Creasy agrees with Dalton's concerns and emphasises that [4D [K that any reforms must support parents to be heard within the educational sy [2D [K system. She highlights the issue of parents having to go to tribunal to ens [3D [K ensure their children receive proper education.
Campbell congratulates Stafford on bringing forward the [K debate and expresses pride in the Government's commitment to reforming the [K SEND system through the White Paper. She notes that under the current syste [5D [K system, parents often feel unsupported and traumatised. Campbell supports e [1D [K early interventions and additional staff training but calls for further det [3D [K detail on teacher training curriculum reforms to ensure newly qualified tea [3D [K teachers are equipped with necessary skills.
Charlie Dewhirst
Con
East Riding of Yorkshire
Expressed concerns about the significant funding dispari [7D [K disparity between local authorities, highlighting that the East Riding of Y [1D [K Yorkshire is the lowest-funded for SEND at approximately £1,000 per pupil, [K compared to Camden's £3,800. He emphasised the historical problem caused by [2D [K by a non-functional funding formula and called on the Minister to address t [1D [K this issue during ongoing consultations.
Gregory Stafford
Con
Farnham
Supported Charlie Dewhirst’s arguments about the need fo [2D [K for better SEND provision, expressing concerns that the current proposals i [1D [K in the White Paper might weaken parents' rights to secure specific provisio [8D [K provisions through tribunals. He urged the Government to listen to parents’ [8D [K parents’ concerns and make necessary adjustments.
Ben Coleman
Con
Chelsea
Welcomed the schools White Paper as a significant attemp [6D [K attempt to improve life for disabled children, families, and those with SEN [3D [K SEND, mentioning the £4 billion investment in school improvements. He raise [5D [K raised questions about enforceability of support plans, health and social c [1D [K care coordination, and family support, urging the Minister for clear legal [K routes and better co-ordination.
Phil Brickell
Lab
Bolton North East
Welcomed the £4.8 million investment in SEND adaptations [11D [K adaptations by this Government but acknowledged that reform is long overdue [7D [K overdue beyond just extra funding. He emphasised the need for sustained cha [3D [K change and better support for families.
Peter Swallow
Con
Crewe and Nantwich
Supported the White Paper's reforms while highlighting c [1D [K concerns from parents about enforceability of individual support plans and [K accountability if schools fail to deliver necessary support. He urged for c [1D [K clearer pathways to resolution in such cases.
Al Pinkerton
Con
Surrey Heath
Thanked the hon. Member for Farnham and Bordon for calli [5D [K calling the debate, noted that his inbox is overflowing with concerns about [5D [K about SEND provision in Surrey. Acknowledged the confirmation of funding fo [2D [K for a new academy but highlighted the high number of SEND tribunal appeals [K in Surrey as a sign of systemic dysfunction. Cited examples of parents' str [3D [K struggles and criticised Surrey county council's leadership for failing to [K acknowledge these issues. Raised concern over financial risks associated wi [2D [K with local government reorganisation in Surrey. Concluded by questioning wh [2D [K whether the Government’s proposed reforms will deliver meaningful change or [2D [K or simply repackage an existing system that fails families.
Sarah Smith
Lab
Hyndburn
Acknowledged the necessity of reforming the SEND system [K inherited from the previous government. Noted increases in high needs block [5D [K block allocation and capital investment for Lancashire, but expressed conce [5D [K concern over delays in EHCP finalisation and parents' struggles with local [K authority failures. Emphasised the importance of putting the voices of pare [4D [K parents, carers, and young people at the heart of reforms. Welcomed the Gov [3D [K Government’s road map for change and its commitment to delivering a more co [2D [K consistent, earlier, clearer, and fairer system.
John Glen
Con
Salisbury
Reflected on surgeries where parents expressed dissatisf [9D [K dissatisfaction with SEND evaluations. Addressed the expansion of EHCPs and [3D [K and the challenges in meeting needs within budget constraints. Highlighted [K concerns over moving from a rights-based system to a resource-led one, noti [4D [K noting risks of underdiagnosis or failing to meet individual needs. Emphasi [7D [K Emphasised the need for an honest conversation about definitional parameter [9D [K parameters and what can realistically be provided.
Daniel Francis
Con
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Supports the proposals for SEND reform, acknowledging th [2D [K that the current system is broken. Advocates for early intervention measure [7D [K measures such as Experts at Hand and individual support plans to address sy [2D [K systemic issues in special educational needs provision.
Chris Coghlan
Lab
Dorking and East Horsley
Critiques the underlying argument that there has been an [2D [K an increase in SEND children, suggesting it is due to policy changes like t [1D [K the scrapping of Sure Start. Shares a personal story about a constituent's [K son who was out of school for years due to delays in receiving an EHCP and [K eventually attempted suicide, highlighting the urgent need for reform and a [1D [K accountability.
Noah Law
Lab
Falmouth and Camborne
Highlights the challenges faced by schools and local aut [3D [K authorities in Cornwall with regard to SEND provision. Describes multiple c [1D [K cases of constituents' children who have been denied or delayed EHCPs, resu [4D [K resulting in significant educational gaps. Supports the Government's propos [6D [K proposed investment but urges for quicker legislative change.
Jennifer Craft
Lab
Constituency Not Mentioned
Declared an interest as a member of the all-party parlia [6D [K parliamentary group for special educational needs and disabilities, and as [K the parent of a child with an EHCP. Criticised the current SEND system for [K being broken and not meeting children's needs at an early stage. Emphasised [10D [K Emphasised the importance of equitable education and addressing unmet needs [5D [K needs. Raised concerns about accountability, workforce planning, and suppor [6D [K support for parents. Highlighted the need for better implementation and cla [3D [K clarity on how to address existing issues.
Iqbal Mohamed
Lab
Dewsbury and Batley
Expressed concern over the adequacy of consultations wit [3D [K with stakeholders, the premature instruction to local authorities to begin [K reforming their systems before consultation conclusions, the workforce capa [4D [K capacity required for ambitious reforms, and the potential weakening of fam [3D [K families' ability to challenge decisions. Asked if the Government would ens [3D [K ensure genuine public consultation, provide clarity on workforce training a [1D [K and funding, protect families' rights to challenge decisions, and ensure th [2D [K that reforms are transparent, evidence-led, and properly resourced.
Rachael Maskell
Lab
York Central
Focused on three main issues: changing the culture in ed [2D [K education to be more inclusive, addressing funding and staffing shortages, [K and improving governance. Emphasised the need for a nurturing environment t [1D [K that considers children's long-term needs, not just short-term results. Cal [3D [K Called for an integrated workforce plan with NHS plans and questioned the i [1D [K impact of academisation on accountability.
Barnsley East
Welcomed the Government’s recent White Paper on SEND ref [3D [K reforms, emphasising the importance of addressing growing needs and priorit [7D [K prioritising early intervention. She supported the focus on inclusion throu [5D [K through improving support in mainstream settings but raised concerns about [K funding, parental rights, staffing, and curriculum reform. Caroline Voaden [K questioned the adequacy of the £4 billion pledge for reforms, expressing wo [2D [K worry that other areas of school budgets may be cut to accommodate this. Sh [2D [K She also highlighted the need for clarity on funding sources and restrictio [10D [K restrictions tied to debt relief for councils. Concerns were raised about c [1D [K changes to the tribunal system potentially limiting parental rights and exp [3D [K expressed anxiety over staffing shortages which are crucial for implementin [11D [K implementing inclusive approaches.
Saqib Bhatti
Lab
West Bromwich West
The speaker acknowledges the wide-ranging debate on SEND [4D [K SEND reforms and expresses appreciation for the efforts of Members like Gre [3D [K Gregory Stafford. He highlights the significant delays in the White Paper a [1D [K and emphasises the need to address parental anxieties, which have been exac [4D [K exacerbated by delayed reforms and unclear communication from the Governmen [9D [K Government. Bhatti discusses specific concerns raised by parents regarding [K the proposed dilution of legal rights, such as the removal of the right to [K appeal EHCP decisions, and questions the Minister about the impact on fundi [5D [K funding gaps and implementation timelines. He also raises issues around the [3D [K the availability of speech and language therapists and other specialist sup [3D [K support services, asking for clarity on staffing requirements and training [K needs. Additionally, he critiques the lack of detail in policy plans for in [2D [K inclusion in mainstream schools and asks how these reforms will be funded w [1D [K without impacting overall education spending.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley
Moore raises concerns about the standardisation approach [8D [K approach associated with ISPs that may result from White Paper reforms, que [3D [K questioning whether the shadow minister shares these views regarding the di [2D [K direction of these reforms under a Labour Government.
Christopher Vince
Conservati [11D [K (Conservative
Chingford and Woodford Green
Vince inquires if Saqib Bhatti will give way to address [K concerns about the patchy delivery of SEND services by local councils, noti [4D [K noting significant variations in council performance.
Iain Duncan Smith
Conservati [11D [K (Conservative
Chingford and Woodford Green
Duncan Smith voices fears among parents regarding propos [6D [K proposed White Paper reforms and the inconsistent quality of EHCPs across d [1D [K different councils. He questions how patchy delivery will be addressed.
Shastri-Hurst agrees with Bhatti's concerns about the lo [2D [K loss of planned special schools, such as the one for Tamworth Lane, which h [1D [K he believes puts additional pressures on mainstream schools and negatively [K impacts parents and pupils.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.