Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on skills levels in Northern Ireland, particularly in the engineering, construction and trades based sectors.

Skills policy is devolved and the Northern Ireland Executive is responsible for matters of skills needs in Northern Ireland, including in engineering, construction and trades-based sectors.

The department maintains constructive relationships with the devolved governments through regular ministerial and official-level engagement, providing opportunities to discuss shared challenges and exchange learning and evidence across the UK.

Officials in the Department for Work and Pensions also maintain relationships with officials from The Northern Ireland Department of the Economy to discuss skills matters.