Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Murrison Excerpts
Tuesday 15th December 2015

(8 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman is talking about cuts in FE spending. I know that is what Labour was scaremongering about just a few weeks ago, but we have actually protected the adult education budget in cash terms, we will double spending on apprenticeships by 2020 and we have extended the availability of advanced learner loans. Taken together, this will mean a 35% real increase in FE spending by 2020 compared with this year.[Official Report, 5 January 2016, Vol. 604, c. 1-2MC.]

Andrew Murrison Portrait Dr Andrew Murrison (South West Wiltshire) (Con)
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22. I welcome the removal of the cap on university places, but what assessment has my right hon. Friend made of the effect on further education colleges, such as Wiltshire college in my constituency, given that they are fishing from the same pool in terms of vocationally based diplomas and apprenticeships?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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I welcome my hon. Friend’s question. We have seen an increase in that, especially in FE colleges that offer higher education courses, which is exactly the kind of diversity and growth we want.