Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to widen access to and inclusion in further and higher education for mature, disadvantaged and other harder to reach students.

This Government has been very clear about the importance of widening participation and improving fair access in higher education – all those with the ability should have access to higher education, irrespective of family income.

In April we published the new National strategy for access and student success. It will help to ensure that all those with the potential to benefit from higher education have equal opportunity to participate and succeed. Our reforms and new funding methodology have ensured that institutions are investing significantly in widening student access to higher education. Through their access agreements with the Office for Fair Access, institutions plan by 2018/19 to increase their spending on outreach, student success and student financial support measures to £735 million, up from £444 million in 2011/12.

Similarly it is important that young people and adults from disadvantaged groups are able to access good quality further education and skills training to help them to find employment, participate in their local community and to lead a more independent life.

We provide ‘Learning Support’ funding to colleges and providers to help people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. We support unemployed people into work by funding units and qualifications in vocational skills, and we fully fund all adults to achieve their first English and maths GCSE. We contribute £210 million a year to support non-formal Community Learning, attracting disadvantaged groups and mature learners who have had very few previous opportunities to engage in education.