Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what responsibilities local authorities will have in relation to further education as part of the (a) Manchester and (b) Sheffield City Deal.

The Government has announced separate devolution agreements with the Combined Authorities in Greater Manchester and Sheffield City Region, which puts them in the driving seat in designing a local skills system that is responsive to labour market needs and economic priorities by 2017. The Combined Authorities will enable the constituent local authorities in the areas to take joint decisions on skills and key growth policies.

The Government will work with the respective Combined Authorities to reshape and restructure their FE systems so they meet their future economic requirements. The Government will devolve the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) to the Combined Authorities, and it will work with them on how to improve the ability of the skills system to respond to local labour market needs and economic priorities.