Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost of introducing free lifelong learning education in further education colleges.

The Government offers a range of support for adult learners, including through the Adult Education Budget and through Advanced Learner Loans. Details of the funding are published through the Skills Funding Letter (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/599089/SFA_Letter_2017-18_final.pdf). The Government has also announced £40 million at this year’s Budget to fund pilots that will test ambitious, new approaches to removing barriers to lifelong learning.