The OBR says that the 'really big surprise' in the forecasts was the huge risk local authorities now pose to Britain's financial stability, particularly because of spiralling SEND costs Richard Hughes says that the special needs programme is putting 'enormous pressure' on local authorities and has led to 'double-digit upward revisions to borrowing' He says it added up to £22billion to financial pressures. 'Local authorities became suddenly a big source of risk and pressure' The OBR points out that the government has said that the 'full cost of SEND provision' will be absorbed 'within departmental budgets BUT no savings have been identified to offset the £6billion worth of costs The OBR says that this would lead to a 4.9 per cent in mainstream school spending per pupil in 2028-29