Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the measures set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper have reached (a) consultation stage, (b) pilot stage and (c) full implementation.

The Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out the government’s plan to deliver a world-leading skills system which meets the economic needs and improves lives. This is a multi-year reform programme that will be delivered through consultation, legislation, cross-government working, and partnership with learners, providers, employers, and local government.

Since the white paper’s publication in October, we have responded to the franchising in higher education consultation, published our implementation plan for post-16 pathways at level 3 and below, closed our consultation on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform and currently consulting on 16-19 performance measures.

We have also boosted investment to accelerate delivery of other measures. In March, we launched a youth employment drive with £1 billion investment, contributing to £2.5 billion for Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy over the next three years. In April, we invested £295 million in Technical Excellence Colleges, to support 100,000 learners to develop skills in key sectors.