Select Committee · Education Committee

Adult skills and lifelong learning

Status: Closed Opened: 26 Mar 2020 Closed: 22 Jun 2021 33 recommendations 12 conclusions 1 report

The Education Committee is relaunching their inquiry into adult skills and lifelong learning (ASALL). The Committee's inquiry will examine the state of adult skills and lifelong learning (ASALL) provision. The inquiry will explore key themes such as participation in ASALL, the balance and range of different forms of provision, and the role of employer-led training. … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third report - A plan for an adult skills and lifelong lear… HC 278 19 Dec 2020 45 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

6 items
10 Recommendation Third report - A plan for an adult skil… Deferred

For its 2021 Spending Review bid, the Department must properly cost what level of Adult...

For its 2021 Spending Review bid, the Department must properly cost what level of Adult Education Budget increase is needed to meet the urgent and overdue reforms we set out in this report. An ambitious, long-term strategy for adult education will require an ambitious funding settlement. The Department must prepare … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that funding beyond 2021-22, including full costings and the potential for a multi-year settlement, will be considered as part of a wider Spending Review later in the year.
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Department for Education
14 Recommendation Third report - A plan for an adult skil… Deferred

The Department should provide additional funding for the digital skills entitlement, and should ensure that...

The Department should provide additional funding for the digital skills entitlement, and should ensure that any future statutory entitlements coming out of the Adult Education Budget are properly costed and funded. This should be clearly linked to forecast participation levels. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government defers additional funding considerations for the digital skills entitlement and future statutory entitlements to a wider Spending Review later in the year, highlighting existing AEB and Community Learning provisions.
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Department for Education
25 Recommendation Third report - A plan for an adult skil… Deferred

The Department should work with the sector to assess what additional funding is needed to...

The Department should work with the sector to assess what additional funding is needed to better support adult learners with SEND. The Department should then introduce a funding premium for adult learners with SEND to ensure there is fully inclusive, accessible provision at all levels. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government describes existing funding and support for SEND learners, and states that a cross-government SEND review is underway to consider support needs, and they are seeking views on provision improvement, but does not commit to assessing additional funding or introducing a specific funding premium.
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Department for Education
30 Conclusion Third report - A plan for an adult skil… Deferred

The community learning budget has been capped at an arbitrary level for ten years.

The community learning budget has been capped at an arbitrary level for ten years. Community learning funding is overly bureaucratic; an average community learning provider may have to negotiate up to ten different funding streams, all with different rules and outcomes. This places unnecessary strain on providers, and takes up … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government describes the purpose and existing funding for community learning, mentions collaboration on the UKSPF, and states that funding beyond 2021–22 will be considered as part of a wider Spending Review, deferring action on the observed budget cap and bureaucracy.
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Department for Education
31 Recommendation Third report - A plan for an adult skil… Deferred

The Department must make the case for a three-year funding settlement for community learning at...

The Department must make the case for a three-year funding settlement for community learning at the next spending review. The Department should review and consolidate the many community learning funding streams to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy for providers. (Paragraph 83) Employer-led training Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that funding for community learning beyond 2021-22 will be considered as part of a wider Spending Review later in the year, thereby deferring a decision on a three-year settlement. It describes the current approach to community learning funding and engagement with MHCLG, …
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Department for Education
40 Recommendation Third report - A plan for an adult skil… Deferred

Current Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) funding restrictions are a barrier for adults seeking to...

Current Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) funding restrictions are a barrier for adults seeking to reskill. Higher level skills at levels 4, 5 and 6 are key to unlocking productivity, and a relaxation of ELQ rules is a fundamental strand of a lifelong right to retrain. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government commits to consulting in early 2021 on the Lifelong Loan Entitlement, which will include seeking views on whether Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) restrictions should be amended to facilitate retraining.
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Department for Education

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
29 Sep 2020 Gillian Keegan · Department for Education View ↗
22 Sep 2020 Dr Sue Pember · HOLEX, Ian Murray · Trade Union Congress, Joe Fizsimons · Institute of Directors, Matthew Percival · Confederation of British Industry, Professor Josie Fraser · The Open University, Simon Parkinson · Workers’ Education Association View ↗

Who gave evidence

7 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Dr Sue Pember · Director of Policy and External Relations HOLEX 1
Gillian Keegan · Secretary of State Department for Education 1
Ian Murray · Senior Policy Officer Trade Union Congress 1
Joe Fizsimons · Head of Education and Skills Policy Institute of Directors 1
Matthew Percival · Director for People and Skills Confederation of British Industry 1
Professor Josie Fraser · Deputy Vice Chancellor The Open University 1
Simon Parkinson · Chief Executive Workers’ Education Association 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
3 Nov 2020 To cttee Letter from the Under Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, follow…