Express & Star

Fury over plans to scrap £12m adult learning scheme

The Government has been accused of "kicking the ladder of opportunity away from working people" over plans to scrap an adult learning scheme.

Published
Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden at the dispatch box in the Commons on October 20.

The £12 million Union Learning Fund, which helps 250,000 workers a year to access learning, is to end next March after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the cash could be spent "in a better way".

The move was blasted by Shadow City Minister Pat McFadden during a heated debate in the Commons.

Wolverhampton South East MP Mr McFadden said: "Capital investment in further education is running at less than half the level put in by Labour 10 years ago.

"Apprenticeship starts are down 43,000 this year, with the biggest drop among under-19s. And yesterday we learned about the short-sighted, vindictive move to scrap the union learning fund.

"Why is it, when the need is for help now with new skills and retraining, that this Government has done so much to kick the ladder of opportunity away from working people?"

Treasury Minister Kemi Badenoch said that in the Budget the Government had increased the amount of money that has been spent on further education.

She added: "The Government remains committed to investing in adult skills and retraining, in addition to the plan for jobs, we will be allocating our new £2.5 billion national skills fund to help young people learn new skills and prepare for jobs in the future."

Last week Mr Williamson said the Union Learning Fund "channelled money" to the Trades Union Congress, which runs it, and could be better invested "to deliver more opportunities in our colleges".

He added: "The reality is that we are investing more in skills and further education than ever before.

"That is why we are investing over £1.5 billion pounds in capital and further education. That's why we're investing more in level 3 A-level equivalent qualifications. That's why we're driving opportunities forward."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a "lifetime skills guarantee" for adult learners, offering free adult education courses.

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