Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Further Education Estate

Monday 4 July 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • We want all colleges in England to provide a world-class education, with a commitment to deliver 1.5 billion to upgrade the further education college estate over six years.
  • I would be delighted to meet Peter Aldous and East Coast College to discuss its strategy and agree on a plan for implementation.
  • I was delighted to visit New City College and continue to be in dialogue with the college regarding future rounds of funding.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney
Education
Context

The MP is concerned about the quality of further education buildings across England.

Question

I am concerned about the assessment of the quality of further education buildings in England. What assessment has been made?

Answer from Alex Burghart

We want all colleges in England to be able to provide a world-class education, which is why we are delivering our manifesto commitment to offer £1.5 billion to upgrade the further education college estate over the next six years. We have surveyed the condition of FE estates—all colleges received their own survey—and we intend to publish a national overview of the results in the next academic year.

Answered
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Q2 Peter Aldous Con
Education Employment
Context

The MP is interested in ensuring that local people have the opportunity to acquire necessary skills for emerging jobs in low-carbon energy along the coast.

Question

Significant investment has taken place at East Coast College, with facilities like the energy skills centre. However, a long-term strategic approach is required. Will my hon. Friend meet me and East Coast College to go through its strategy and agree on a plan for implementation?

Answer from Alex Burghart

I thank my hon. Friend for his interest in this agenda. I would be delighted to meet him and his college.

Partly answered
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Q3 Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney
Education
Context

The MP is concerned about the unaffordable match funding required for major works at New City College in Tower Hamlets, with a redevelopment cost of £85 million.

Question

Match funding required for major works is unaffordable for colleges like New City College. The college has two campuses in Tower Hamlets and no longer has the facilities to provide modern workplace education because of redevelopment costs. Will the Minister meet me and the principal of New City College to discuss a way forward?

Answer from Alex Burghart

I was delighted to visit New City College during Education World Forum week. It received £5 million in phase 1 of the FE capital transformation fund. We continue to be in dialogue with the college into the next rounds and I am happy to talk to the hon. Lady and the principal at any time.

Partly answered
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Q4 Carol Monaghan SNP
Education Scotland
Context

The MP is comparing the investment made by the Scottish Government on further education estates since 2007, noting that an equivalent investment in FE in England would be £8 billion.

Question

Last week, Scottish schools broke up for summer holidays. The Scottish Government have invested more than £800 million since 2007 on the further education estate in Scotland. An equivalent investment in FE in England would be £8 billion. How will the college estate in England be brought up to world class standard without greater investment?

Answer from Alex Burghart

We said that we would upgrade the FE college estate. We set £1.5 billion aside to do that. I am not in a position to comment on the condition of the Scottish FE estate. It may well be that the Scottish estate was in a considerably worse state of repair after several years of SNP rule.

How: Comparing With Scotland

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