Written questions by Garnier.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the adequacy of the jurisdiction of the SEND Tribunal.

Most education, health and care (EHC) plans and assessments are concluded without a Tribunal hearing, but, increasingly, many families are having to go to Tribunal to get the support they think they need.The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Tribunal is an important legal backstop for cases where families disagree with a local authority about the support needed and where disagreements cannot be resolved early through collaborative early dispute resolution.The department wants to ensure we have a collaborative redress system where families and local authorities resolve disputes early, enabling children and young people to access the support they need quickly.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education regularly meets cabinet colleagues to discuss SEND system improvements. We will work with government colleagues and the Tribunal, to ensure the best outcomes for children and families.

What discussions she has had with (a) tribunal judges and (b) local authorities on the future of the SEND tribunal.

Most education, health and care (EHC) plans and assessments are concluded without a Tribunal hearing, but, increasingly, many families are having to go to Tribunal to get the support they think they need.The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Tribunal is an important legal backstop for cases where families disagree with a local authority about the support needed and where disagreements cannot be resolved early through collaborative early dispute resolution.The department wants to ensure we have a collaborative redress system where families and local authorities resolve disputes early, enabling children and young people to access the support they need quickly.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education regularly meets cabinet colleagues to discuss SEND system improvements. We will work with government colleagues and the Tribunal, to ensure the best outcomes for children and families.

What assessment her Department has of the adequacy of the range of communication methods used by Teachers' Pensions to contact their customers.

Teachers’ Pensions employs a wide range of communication methods to contact members of the scheme, including via member portal, website, telephone contact centre, webchat, text messaging, post, email and social media platforms.The department regularly reviews contractual performance via an established management process to ensure the best possible service is provided to members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

What information her Department holds on the number of complaints made against the service provided by Teachers' Pensions in the last five years.

The information held on the number of complaints is provided in the table below.Year (January to December)Complaints category: Delivery of Service20202,43620213,24320221,73020233,20320246,3862025 (covers January and February)1,268 596,000 members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme require Remediable Service Statements (RSSs), setting out member choices as part of the Transitional Protection remedy, for the age discrimination that was identified as part of the public service pension scheme reforms implemented under the previous government in 2015. Approximately 532,000 have been issued by the end of March 2025.Departmental officials continue to work closely with the scheme administrator on plans to issue the remaining RSSs, as soon as is practical.Where RSSs are taking longer to issue, affected members can be assured that any difference to pension in payment as a result of their remedy period choice is backdated to when the pension began, with interest applied.

If she will make an an assessment of the adequacy of the length of time taken by Teachers' Pensions to process applications for remedial service statements.

The information held on the number of complaints is provided in the table below.Year (January to December)Complaints category: Delivery of Service20202,43620213,24320221,73020233,20320246,3862025 (covers January and February)1,268 596,000 members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme require Remediable Service Statements (RSSs), setting out member choices as part of the Transitional Protection remedy, for the age discrimination that was identified as part of the public service pension scheme reforms implemented under the previous government in 2015. Approximately 532,000 have been issued by the end of March 2025.Departmental officials continue to work closely with the scheme administrator on plans to issue the remaining RSSs, as soon as is practical.Where RSSs are taking longer to issue, affected members can be assured that any difference to pension in payment as a result of their remedy period choice is backdated to when the pension began, with interest applied.

What (a) financial and (b) other support her Department provides to teachers who retire unexpectedly due to ill health.

Teachers who are members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme who suffer ill-health such that they are assessed as being unable to continue working up until their Normal Pension Age, equal to State Pension Age, can access their accrued pension benefits without the usual actuarial adjustment being applied in view of early payment. In the most serious cases, an enhanced pension is payable, which is 50% of their projected accrual to their Normal Pension Age.The department does not employ teachers, and it is the employer’s responsibility to offer any appropriate additional support to its employees.