{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/765948.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":765948,"attributes":{"action":"Regulate SEND advocates to protect parents needing legal advice","background":"There has been a significant rise in advocates providing paid services for parents of children with special educational needs. Many parents are finding themselves desperately seeking guidance and support with the current complex legal framework. There is no regulation for advocacy services","additional_details":"The free statutory Information and Advice Services (IAS) that are provided by Local Authorities vary greatly in the level of support they are able to provide. With many having services cut. We feel both IAS services & registered charities are unable to cope with the colossal amount of parents needing legal advice. This means many parents are unable to access reputable free support. Any service providing advice around legal frameworks must be regulated to ensure parents are protected & not taken advantage off.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":64,"created_at":"2026-03-30T21:06:11.147Z","updated_at":"2026-05-04T07:31:00.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-04-30T14:47:20.536Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-03-31T05:53:40.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"MISS SARA RILEY","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DHSC","name":"Department of Health and Social Care","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":64}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Ashford","ons_code":"E14001069","mp":"Sojan Joseph MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Banbury","ons_code":"E14001072","mp":"Sean Woodcock MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Basingstoke","ons_code":"E14001078","mp":"Luke Murphy MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Bedford","ons_code":"E14001084","mp":"Mohammad Yasin MP","signature_count":10},{"name":"Brent West","ons_code":"E14001123","mp":"Barry Gardiner MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Broxbourne","ons_code":"E14001139","mp":"Lewis Cocking MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Burnley","ons_code":"E14001142","mp":"Oliver Ryan MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Chorley","ons_code":"E14001170","mp":"Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Christchurch","ons_code":"E14001171","mp":"Sir Christopher Chope MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Coventry South","ons_code":"E14001182","mp":"Zarah Sultana MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Croydon South","ons_code":"E14001187","mp":"Rt Hon Chris Philp MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Dudley","ons_code":"E14001204","mp":"Sonia Kumar MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard","ons_code":"E14001206","mp":"Alex Mayer MP","signature_count":7},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Epsom and Ewell","ons_code":"E14001227","mp":"Helen Maguire MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Great Yarmouth","ons_code":"E14001256","mp":"Rupert Lowe MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Hitchin","ons_code":"E14001289","mp":"Alistair Strathern MP","signature_count":3},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Luton North","ons_code":"E14001345","mp":"Sarah Owen MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Mid Bedfordshire","ons_code":"E14001359","mp":"Blake Stephenson MP","signature_count":9},{"name":"Milton Keynes Central","ons_code":"E14001369","mp":"Emily Darlington MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Mitcham and Morden","ons_code":"E14001371","mp":"Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Newton Abbot","ons_code":"E14001381","mp":"Martin Wrigley MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North Bedfordshire","ons_code":"E14001384","mp":"Richard Fuller MP","signature_count":3},{"name":"North Dorset","ons_code":"E14001388","mp":"Simon Hoare MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North East Hertfordshire","ons_code":"E14001393","mp":"Chris Hinchliff MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Queen's Park and Maida Vale","ons_code":"E14001435","mp":"Georgia Gould MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Rochester and Strood","ons_code":"E14001447","mp":"Lauren Edwards MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Rother Valley","ons_code":"E14001451","mp":"Jake Richards MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"South Holland and The Deepings","ons_code":"E14001487","mp":"Rt Hon Sir John Hayes MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"South West Hertfordshire","ons_code":"E14001496","mp":"Mr Gagan Mohindra MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Southend West and Leigh","ons_code":"E14001502","mp":"David Burton-Sampson MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Surrey Heath","ons_code":"E14001532","mp":"Dr Al Pinkerton MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Tatton","ons_code":"E14001539","mp":"Rt Hon Esther McVey MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":3},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":3},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":40},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":4},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":8},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":4}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}