To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will instruct the Learning and Skills Council to reconsider the need for a transitional year for the new post-16 funding arrangements. (211402)

We are continuing to work closely with all our partners and stakeholders to manage the transition to the new post-18 funding arrangements. As set out in the White Paper, “Raising Expectations: Enabling the System to Deliver”, as we develop our implementation and delivery plans, a critical part of this process will be ensuring that the Learning and Skills Council and local authorities work closely together in the years before the formal transfer occurs. We are confident that these transitional arrangements will help to enable local authorities to effectively develop their capability and capacity to discharge their new role.