THE Bath and North East Somerset Council Labour councillors have welcomed the news that the government will pay off 90 percent of SEND debt.

Group leader Cllr Robin Moss said: “This is really good news for Bath and North Somerset, the government is picking up the pieces left behind by 14 years of Conservative government.”

Children's scrutiny panel member Cllr Lesley Mansell added: “This is an incredible announcement by the Labour Government that they will largely remove the debt amassed by the spending on support for Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND).”

Vice-chair of the health and wellbeing panel, Cllr Liz Hardman added: “We have focused on this at B&NES and look forward to the plans for SEND reform expected in the forthcoming White Paper.”