Skilled Workers: Finance
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of differing levels of skills funding between mayoral and non-mayoral combined authorities on trends in the level of (a) educational achievement, (b) regional social mobility, and (c) job creation.
Answered by Andrew Western
Skills provision is funded in a number of different ways including but not limited to 16-19 funding, the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), Apprenticeships funding, and Advanced Learner Loans. There are no plans to make the proposed assessment, as the costs to do so would be disproportionate.
The ASF fully funds or co-funds education and skills training for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning, with the aim to in particular support adults with low earnings or skills, both in work and unemployed.
As of August 2025, approximately 68% of the ASF is devolved to 12 Strategic Authorities (SAs) and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the ASF to learning providers. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for the remaining ASF in non-devolved areas.
The current levels of funding for the devolved authorities and the residual share for serving learners in non-devolved areas are based on their share of the Adult Education Budget in 2017/18 (the previous name for the Adult Skills Fund).
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →