Oral Answers to Questions

Kelvin Hopkins Excerpts

Monday 6th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

One last question—the voice of Luton North, Mr Kelvin Hopkins.

[Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) (Lab)]

14. What comparative assessment she has made of the sixth-form education system in England and education systems in other countries.

[The Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills (Robert Halfon)]

Education and training in England are widely respected, but we are determined to make further improvements to make sure that 16 to 19-year-olds are ready for the demands of the workplace. We are reforming academic and technical education for over-16s, and we are learning from the best of international systems.

[Kelvin Hopkins]

Why are sixth-formers in England funded to receive only half the tuition time and support provided to sixth-formers in Shanghai, Singapore and other leading education systems?

[Robert Halfon]

I am proud that we have equalised funding between sixth-form colleges and further education colleges, and that we have protected the base rate of spending for FE students and will be spending £7 billion this year on further education. We have funding pressures, as the hon. Gentleman knows, but we are doing everything we can to invest in our skills and education.