To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail how the recent cuts to the skills budget aligns with her Department's Fit for the Future programme, which sets out a vision for a sustainable, ambitious further education sector.

The current budget decisions are being made by the Department’s Permanent Secretary in the context of contingency funding allocations and should not be read as reflecting my ministerial priorities or decisions.

FE Colleges play a critical role in providing learners with the skills they need in a rapidly changing global economy. In an increasingly constrained budgetary position, we need to ensure that limited resources are used to best effect and the FE Fit For The Future programme is focussed on ensuring that colleges carry out their role as effectively as possible, while delivering for learners, employers and the broader economy.