To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to bring funding levels for 16 to 18-year-olds in further education colleges up to the funding levels in schools; and if he will make a statement. (154008)

The LSC has made a series of changes to funding arrangements which have already reduced the gap by 5 per cent. Further work is already in hand that will reduce the gap by a further 3 per cent. from 2008.

Changes made include increasing college funding rates by 1 per cent. more than school sixth form funding rates in 2004/05 and 2005/06; removing, from 2006/07, in-year adjustment for school sixth forms to bring them into line with college funding arrangements; and, from 2006/07, collecting pupil-level data from school sixth forms on retention and attainment.