Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce regulatory compliance costs for colleges.

Reducing costs by minimising burdens on colleges is critical. The department want to see money spent on quality provision, rather than on back-office overheads.

Through our recent further education funding and accountability reforms, we have been simplifying the requirements we place on colleges, This has included streamlining funding pots and rules for apprenticeships. However, the department acknowledges that there is more to do. We are exploring how we can go further on funding simplification, as well as taking forward work to streamline our asks on data and audit.

The department will continue to work closely with the sector and key partners, such as the Mayoral Combined Authorities, National Audit Office, and Office for Students to reduce activity and costs where possible.