Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to Answer of 30 January 2018 to Question 124959, what his policy is on devolving the skills budget other than adult learning to directly elected mayors and combined authorities.

At this time, the department has no further plans to devolve other areas of skills provision other than the devolution of the adult education budget in 2019/20.

We recognise the importance of maintaining a consistently high quality 16 to 19 year old education system to help promote social mobility.

In addition, the department is working collaboratively with local areas to ensure people can gain the skills that meet both local and national needs including setting up Skills Advisory Panels to further inform local areas about the need for skills.