Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many meetings officials from (a) her Department and (b) HM Treasury have had with Sir Michael Barber in his role as an adviser on skills reform since the announcement of his appointment to that role.

Sir Michael Barber has been appointed in a personal capacity to provide private advice to my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Education and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the implementation of the government’s current skills reform programme.

The Secretary of State and the Chancellor meet with Sir Michael on a monthly basis. The Minister for Skills, Further and Higher Education has also held meetings with Sir Michael.

Officials from the department and HM Treasury meet with Sir Michael on a weekly basis.

Sir Michael will provide ongoing private advice to the Secretary of State and the Chancellor until there is an agreement for the appointment to end. His work in this capacity is unpaid.