Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the rights of local communities to make decisions on the design and delivery of skills development programmes.

We have devolved approximately 50% of the Adult Education Budget to 7 Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Greater London Authority, enabling those regions to have more control over design and development of adult skills and training programmes so that they meet better local needs.

We will set out our future plans for post-16 education providers in the Further Education White Paper, which is soon to be published. As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education set out earlier this year, this will give colleges a lead role in developing skills in their areas – through working with small, local businesses to support the introduction of new technology and processes and offering training in emerging skills, with high quality qualifications based on employer-led standards, they will drive an ambitious agenda that responds to local economic need.