Written question asked by Chi Onwurah (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 November 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 25 November 2011. It was answered by John Hayes (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 November 2011 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Science: Finance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria his Department uses to allocate further education science funding.

Answer: [holding answer 25 November 2011]: The Department does not allocate further education funding at a sectoral level. Further education funding and core priorities for the Skills Funding Agency which reflect the Government's ambitions and investment plans for FE and skills are set out in the Grant Letter to the chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency, published on 31 March 2011, available at:"http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/SFA/VINCE_CABLE_TO_ GEOFF_RUSSELL_(Skills_Funding_Agency)_31_MARCH_2011.pdf"The Skills Funding Agency allocates budgets to individual FE colleges and training organisations. From 2011/12 academic year, we have introduced a single adult skills budget. Each college and training organisation is expected to use its single adult skills budget to support the delivery of apprenticeships, classroom-based learning and work-based learning to meet the needs of the learners and employers. This will provide FE colleges and training organisations with the flexibility to offer the range and balance of programmes, from basic skills to higher-level skills, in the mode of delivery that will best meet the needs of learners, employers and communities (classroom, workshop, online and in the workplace). As funding is not allocated at the learning aim level, the amount of money spent on qualifications in specific sectors is not reported centrally by the Skills Funding Agency.

Secondary information