Oral Answers to Questions

Thelma Walker Excerpts

Monday 10th September 2018 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Thelma Walker (Colne Valley) (Lab)]

1. What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the adequacy of funding for sixth form students.

[The Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills (Anne Milton)]

The Department is working closely with the Treasury to look at spending on 16-19 education ahead of the 2019 spending review. We are also looking at the resilience and efficiency of the further education sector to make sure it is sustainable and continues to give the excellent education it already does.

[Thelma Walker]

What advice would the Minister give to the 50% of schools and colleges that have already cut modern foreign language courses and the 67% that have already cut additional support and extracurricular activities?

[Anne Milton]

Of course, the figure for those taking foreign language GCSEs, which fall into that age group, has gone up from 40% to 47%. We have also protected the base rate of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds until 2020. I should add, too, that the proportion of 16 and 17-year-olds in education or apprenticeships is the highest since records began, and of course we are putting in significant support for disadvantaged students as well.