Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the disruption to higher education as a result of the covid-19 outbreak, what plans his Department has to review the Education and Skills Funding Agency's proposals to clawback adult skills funding from colleges in the event that they miss their 2020-21 academic year targets by more than 10 per cent.

We are lowering the reconciliation threshold of Education and Skills Funding Agency grant funded Adult Education Budget (AEB) - adult skills including non-formula funded community learning and 19-24 Traineeships - and Advanced Learner Loan Bursary fund providers for 2020 to 2021, from 97% and 100% respectively to 90%.

The allocations for COVID-19 Skills Offer, including funding for the new level 3 adult offer, are ringfenced and the reconciliation threshold for under-delivery of this provision will remain at 97%.

Our primary aim is to support providers to continue to deliver as much quality provision as possible, including above the 90% threshold, whether that be face-face where permitted, online or otherwise remotely, and including subcontracting (for AEB-funded provision only) where that is in line with our subcontracting conditions set out in the rules and contracts.

We acknowledge the situation is still difficult for providers but equally we know that many providers have been able to deliver remotely during lockdown very successfully and the return to face-to-face learning should enhance further providers’ ability to deliver.

This 90% threshold is the final position for the 2020-21 academic year and will not be subject to change. There will not be a business case process. In areas where the AEB has been devolved, Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Greater London Authority are responsible for considering any provider flexibilities in their areas.