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World Class Skills 2020

We certainly are responding to the need to move towards a system of self-regulation. Indeed, Sir George Sweeney headed up a working party with which the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby and I have vigorously engaged. A set of proposals are forthcoming on how to move over time towards a much more clearly defined system of self-regulation. It is critical that we get the detail right. The hon. Gentleman will know, as he and I talked about it on the Floor of the House this morning, that the proposal to enable high-quality and high-performing further education colleges to award their own foundation degrees is a significant step in that direction. However, we must ensure—and we are doing so—that the quality framework is right. We accept Sandy Leitch’s recommendation for a commission for employment and skills to give employers a stronger voice, and we will move forward quickly on that proposal. That voice is vital if we are to realise our ambition of integrating business with employment and skills services. Over the coming months, the Government will engage with a range of stakeholders to discuss how best to develop the package of recommendations in the Leitch report. That will help us to finalise the Government's response and develop an implementation plan linked to the comprehensive spending review. In conclusion, one of the most important changes that we need to make is in people’s attitudes. The old culture of a job for life must be replaced by a new culture of learning for life. We must create a system of learning that flows into the veins of this country and becomes as much a part of the British psyche as tolerance and fair play. We need every single person in Britain to join us in the mission to upskill the country and deliver our vision of world-class skills.