Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire councils to benefit from national SEND deficit write‑off

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

TUESDAY 17^th FEBRUARY 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alistair Strathern, MP for Hitchin, has welcomed news Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) are among the local authorities set to benefit from the Government’s groundbreaking national programme to write off 90% of historic Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) debt.

SEND demand has grown nationally in recent years, stretching council budgets well beyond their limits. Debts have built up, leading to many councils spending millions each year on interest payments alone that could otherwise be spent on local provision. For some, this debt has pushed them close to bankruptcy. With this announcement, millions that would have gone to servicing this debt, can now be redirected to frontline services.

This will take approximately £143 million off Herts and CBC’s debts, reducing Hertfordshire County Council's debt by approximately £80m and CBC's by approximately £63m, freeing up millions in interest payments for both councils that can now be spent on provision instead and reducing the risk the debts posed to their ongoing viability. 

A shortage of quality SEND provision is a national problem, but our local challenges are especially acute. Strathern has spoken many times in the Commons about this, led debates and campaigned for reform and increased budgets. This announcement will aid the work of Strathern’s SEND accountability group with HCC and all Herts MPs, which meets quarterly.

Alistair Strathern MP said:

“One of the huge SEND challenges we face is local authority debt and interest payments. It has been a real inhibitor of progress.

“I am so glad to see us putting this right, wiping the debt and freeing up millions that would have been spent on interest payments to go where it should, supporting our young people.

“This announcement should give countless parents hope and confidence that we are moving in the right direction.

“There is still a long way to go to create the kind of SEND system we all want to see, but this is a vital step forward.”