Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to allow local leaders to use Skills Bootcamp funding to support training for bus drivers.

Skills Bootcamps are a great way for learners and local areas to develop the skills they need and the department provides grant funding to 30 mayoral combined authorities and local areas to deliver Skills Bootcamps training that meets local skills’ priorities. In the 2023/24 financial year, the total value of grant funding contracts awarded was approximately £114 million.

The department continues to keep the sectors eligible for Skills Bootcamps funding under review.