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Further Education: Finance

Volume 506: debated on Monday 1 March 2010

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to simplify the arrangements for funding of colleges; and if he will make a statement. (319159)

As set out in “Skills for Growth” (November 2009), the Government are committed to simplifying the further education (FE) and skills landscape. We will reduce the number of separate publicly-funded agencies, and the funding and monitoring of FE colleges will be undertaken through a simpler and lighter touch approach.

From April 2010, the Skills Funding Agency will have responsibility for allocating and delivering funding to colleges to support the training of adults (aged 19 and over). Each college and training organisation funded through the Skills Funding Agency will have a single contact point through their account manager.

From 2010/11 academic year there will be greater flexibility for colleges and training organisations in managing post 19 funding within budget streams.