To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the implications of changes in the funding of equivalent or lower qualifications for the training of ordinands in the Church of England. (186794)

The progressive re-distribution of institutional funding away from students doing equivalent or lower level qualifications will enable us to widen Higher Education participation and support more of the millions of people of all ages without a first Higher Education qualification, some of whom may wish to train as ordinands. However, we asked HEFCE to lead discussions with interested parties on this issue including, for example, the options of Foundation Degrees or employer co-funded courses relevant to positions of religious and spiritual leadership and respond within two months.