Higher Education: Part-Time Students

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Excerpts

Wednesday 11th November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

As I said, we are taking a series of measures to try to encourage people who want to undertake part-time courses. Of course we encourage anybody who wishes to undertake upskilling to be able to do so. As I said, we have seen a 43% increase in the number of higher and degree apprenticeships compared to 2013. We have got them in various industries already and another 11 have been approved for development, so we are looking at other ways in which we can encourage people into part-time study.

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab)]

My Lords, the Minister says that the Government believe that further education colleges are important. Can she therefore give us an assurance that there will be no closure of FE colleges as a result of the spending review?

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

I am sure the noble Baroness quite understands that I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the spending review.