Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government's proposed technical education pathways will require changes to the funding available for post-16 transport in rural areas such as Suffolk.

The department will work closely with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, local leaders, schools, colleges and employers to understand the implications for staffing, facilities and infrastructure of the new technical education pathways.

Responsibility for post-16 transport rests with local authorities, which must publish an annual transport policy statement setting out the arrangements they consider necessary to support young people to access education and training.

The introduction of new technical education pathways does not in itself require changes to post-16 transport policy. Decisions on local transport support, including in rural areas such as Suffolk, remain a matter for local authorities, who are encouraged to work with transport providers, employers and training providers in their local area to support participation.