Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Rejected
Government devolution plans for skills are welcomed but exclude 16-19 education and training.
Conclusion
We welcome the Government’s plans to deepen and widen the devolution of skills and employment support in England. Devolving further powers to Strategic Authorities will help to drive growth, encourage the co- ordinated delivery of education and training services across the country, and meet the unique needs of local communities. It is disappointing, however, that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, as introduced, limits the devolution of skills and employment support to those aged 19 and over and does not make provision for the devolution of 16–19 education and training. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that every part of the country benefits from further devolution and that no area is left behind, regardless of its status within the devolution process. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government rejects the implicit suggestion to devolve 16-19 education funding, stating it is important to maintain a national, consistently high-quality offer to promote social mobility. It confirms Mayors will continue to feed priorities into DfE's strategic conversations and LSIPs for 16-19 year olds.
Government Response
The government responded to this report on 9 December 2025. No passage in that response could be matched to this conclusion. Read the response document ↗