Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the reduction in public spending on adult further education in 2015–16 announced last month on people with autism and with disabilities.

We remain committed to ensuring the skills system operates effectively to support the needs of the learners who are most disadvantaged.

The Department provides Learning Support funding to Colleges and providers to help them meet the additional needs of learners with learning difficulties and disabilities and meet the costs of reasonable adjustments as set out in the Equality Act 2010. Learning Support can cover a range of needs including, for example, an assessment for dyslexia, funding to pay for specialist equipment or helpers and arranging signers or note takers.

We have maintained the Community Learning budget for 2015-16, at £215.7m, which includes an additional £5m (and £15m 2016-17) for the pilot community learning courses to help adults recover from mild to moderate mental illness, as announced in the Government’s Autumn Statement.

The freedoms and flexibilities offered by the adult skills budget gives colleges the ability to offer provision to respond best to the priorities and needs of learners and employers in the local area. The approach to funding takes into account the impact on individual providers from year to year.