Adult Learning: Union Learning Fund

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts

Tuesday 24th November 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education met Frances O’Grady of the TUC to discuss this very matter in November.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB) [V]]

My Lords, in a fast-changing world we have to adapt and learn new skills to survive. The Union Learning Fund has helped many to do this. Does the Minister agree that it makes no sense to end this valuable way into adult learning, costing only £12 million a year, while increasing spending by billions on defence against imaginary enemies?

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, I do not agree with the noble Lord. In fact, we are spending billions of pounds on funding for skills and training, through a combination of the national skills fund and the skills recovery package, to make sure that people can get access to the support they need at this very important time.