Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Robin Walker and Andrew Bowie

Monday 14th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Walker]

My hon. Friend makes an important point. Government guidance sets out the powers that local authorities have and the actions that they can take. He is right that the adult education budget has funding to support literacy and, with the new numeracy programme, to support numeracy. There is a role for stepping up in that space. Local authorities already have powers to specify levels of literacy and numeracy on a case-by-case basis, and having the statutory register will encourage them to use those powers.

[Andrew Bowie (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (Con)]

13. What steps he is taking to help support young people from deprived backgrounds access higher education.