Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the written answer by Baroness Berridge on 30 March (HL2644), when they expect to launch a consultation on the National Skills Fund.

The government remains committed to consulting widely on the National Skills Fund to ensure that we develop a fund that helps adults learn valuable skills and prepare for the economy of the future. We are providing £2.5 billion (£3 billion when including Barnett funding for devolved administrations), for the National Skills Fund.

The department is continuing to review the ongoing implications of COVID-19 and we are considering the most appropriate time and approach we can take to launch the consultation, ensuring we have meaningful discussions with employers, providers and users.

In the meantime, we will engage closely with stakeholders as we continue to develop detailed plans for the National Skills Fund, including considering what role the fund could play in meeting more immediate needs in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.