Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the dates were of the most recent meetings between Ministers from her Department and their counterparts in the devolved administrations; and what the dates are of the next planned meetings.

My Rt hon. Friend, the Minister of State for School Standards and Minister for Equalities, met John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, and Kirsty Williams AM, Cabinet Secretary for Education, on 30 March 2017.

My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research, met Kirsty Williams AM, Cabinet Secretary for Education, on 20 December 2016.

Education is a power that is devolved to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. My Ministerial colleagues do not currently have planned meetings with their counterparts in the devolved administrations, however there is ongoing dialogue at official level.