Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department will be offering support to further education colleges offering vocational courses to address the increase in steel costs as a result of planned import tariffs.

The department does not provide specific, ring‑fenced funding to further education (FE) colleges in response to individual input cost pressures such as changes in steel prices. The department provides support to the FE sector both through revenue and capital funding. Funding settlements provide overall funding levels, and FE colleges are responsible for managing their own budgets and procurement decisions.

Funding for 16–19 education and adult skills is designed to contribute towards the delivery of programmes, including the cost of materials required for vocational courses.

In academic year 2026-27, we are providing nearly £9 billion in 16-19 programme funding. The 16-19 funding formula recognises that some courses including those with their primary activity in ‘engineering’ and ‘building and construction’ cost more to deliver, and additional funding is allocated through programme cost weightings.

In addition, the department is providing significant capital investment to the sector, with £1.3 billion allocated through the FE College Condition Allocation between 2026 and 2030, including £307 million in 2026–27. This funding supports colleges to maintain, improve and ensure the suitability of their estates, with discretion to prioritise spending over a three-year period.

We continue to monitor cost pressures facing the sector, including inflation, and keep funding under review as part of wider spending decisions.