Oral Answers to Questions

Vince Cable Excerpts

Tuesday 6th November 2018 Commons Chamber

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked—

[Sir Vince Cable (Twickenham) (LD)]

1. What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the adequacy of schools funding.

[The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Philip Hammond)]

More money is going into schools than ever before. Schools will receive over £42 billion of core funding this year and £43.5 billion next year. Our investment in schools is paying off, with 86% of schools now rated good or outstanding compared with 68% in 2010. Schools funding for 2020-21 onwards will be considered along with all areas of non-NHS departmental spending at next year’s spending review.

[Sir Vince Cable]

The Chancellor will already be aware that the £400 million for “little extras” has gone down like a lead balloon with schools that cannot afford the basics, but will he explain why there was not even a penny of additional money for post-16 colleges, most of which are in a desperate financial position and cannot carry out their training functions? Is the further education sector just another “little extra”?

[Mr Hammond]

As the right hon. Gentleman will know, we have launched a significant initiative for the FE sector with the Government’s new T-level programme, which is being rolled out over the next few years. The programme involves a funding commitment of an additional £500 million a year to increase contact time between learners and teachers or work environments by 50%.