Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the absence of the Northern Ireland Executive on the provision of (1) higher, (2) further, and (3) secondary, education in Northern Ireland; and in particular, variation of such provision between Belfast and Londonderry.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
It is important that we deliver excellent education for our children and young people across the United Kingdom.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland understands the pressures and decisions facing education centres across Northern Ireland. The Government has committed to publishing a report on or before 4 September 2019 on higher education provision in Northern Ireland.
As education is devolved these matters are of course for an incoming NI Executive to consider. That is why securing a successful outcome to the talks process, so that a functioning NI Executive can be restored, is the Secretary of State’s absolute priority.
In the meantime, I will pass on the Noble Lord’s concerns to the Department of Education.