Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on budgets for the devolved adult skills fund.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chief Secretary of the Treasury meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Education.

At the Spending Review on 30 October, the Department for Education received a settlement providing total DEL funding of £99.7 billion in 2025-26. The Department is responsible for determining their budgets, including for the Adult Skills Fund, through their Business Planning process. Budgets beyond 2025-26 will be determined at phase 2 of the Spending Review on 11 June.

Achieving growth and breaking down barriers to opportunity are key priorities for this Government. The Adult Skills Fund is a crucial component of both missions helping to provide a foundation for individuals to improve earnings and employment opportunities, and open doors to further learning. This Government is committed to seeing local government empowered and strengthened including through the devolution of adult skills.