📚 Delegated Legislation Committee

General Committees

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The UK Parliament’s Third Delegated Legislation Committee approved new regulations that transfer adult education functions and funding to Cornwall, the East Midlands, and York and North Yorkshire starting August 2025. This move aims to allow these regions to tailor adult education to meet local needs, enhancing economic growth and community prosperity. Concerns were raised about a recent 6% cut to the national adult skills budget, which could impact the effectiveness of the devolved funding. Local leaders are expected to use the new powers to address specific regional challenges, such as economic inactivity and workforce skills development.

Summary

  • The parliamentary session discussed three draft statutory instruments aimed at transferring adult education functions and funding to local areas in Cornwall, East Midlands, and York and North Yorkshire.

  • The Department for Education plans to devolve these functions starting 1 August 2025, allowing local areas to tailor adult education to meet their specific needs.

  • The functions transferred include education and training for adults aged 19 and over, financial resources for education, and support for technical education, excluding apprenticeships and certain detained individuals.

  • Devolution aims to provide local areas with the flexibility to address their unique skills needs, enhancing economic growth and prosperity.

  • The government remains committed to the adult skills fund, investing £1.4 billion annually, despite a small budget cut.

  • Specific plans for devolved funding include: York and North Yorkshire focusing on local skills and carbon-negative transition; East Midlands targeting economic inactivity in deprived areas; and Cornwall addressing the needs of an ageing population in key sectors.

  • Concerns were raised about the actual flexibility of the devolved funding due to statutory entitlements, with requests for clearer data on how much of the devolved budget is genuinely discretionary.

  • Local issues, such as the potential closure of an adult education centre in Camelford, Cornwall, were highlighted, emphasizing the need for accessible education in underserved areas.

  • The draft regulations were approved by the committee, with no objections, signaling support for the devolution of adult education functions to the specified local areas.

Divisiveness

The session exhibits a moderate level of disagreement, primarily focused on factual inquiries and concerns about the implementation and impact of the proposed devolution of adult education functions. While there is overall support for the devolution, disagreements and concerns arise in specific areas and are addressed through questioning and clarification rather than outright opposition.