Skip to main content

Further Education: Finance

Volume 497: debated on Thursday 15 October 2009

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to give further education colleges greater financial freedom to enable them to make flexible use of funding streams; and if he will make a statement. (293104)

Following consultation in January 2007, the Learning and Skills Council introduced two main funding routes for adult training (Adult Learner Responsive and Employer Responsive). This rationalised the larger number of funding streams that were previously in place and provided colleges and providers with increased ability to move funds between programmes.

We continue to listen to feedback from the sector as part of assessing the impact of introducing the new funding models in 2008/09 academic year. A key aspect of the funding system is ensuring that the full range of adult learners are able to access programmes that meet their needs especially where they are less able to articulate these needs.