Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Wood Excerpts
Monday 20th January 2020

(4 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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I am sure the hon. Lady is aware that colleges in England are independent and able to set their own staff terms and conditions. We have committed to extra funding for those colleges into the next financial year and continue to back them with more funding through investment and capital.

Mike Wood Portrait Mike Wood (Dudley South) (Con)
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My right hon. Friend knows from his own experience the importance of further education, but he has also seen the excellent education and training provided at Dudley College. What assurances can he give that such colleges will have the funding resources they need for the roll-out of T-levels to make this scheme a big success?

Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
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My hon. Friend raises a valuable point about how vital T-levels are for the success of our colleges and the whole education system. We have committed £500,000 a year to support the roll-out of T-levels plus capital investment. Dudley College is a magnificent institution that we are turning into an institute of technology. We are rolling out 20 of those across the country. We want people to understand how vital our colleges are to delivering the world-class education, technical and vocational, that this country needs.