Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Machinery of Government – Skills

16 September 2025 · Prime Minister

Proposed by Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras

EducationEmployment

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

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • The Department for Work and Pensions will take over responsibilities for apprenticeships, adult further education, skills, training and careers, and Skills England.
  • Responsibility for higher education and younger individuals will stay with the Department for Education.
  • Keir Starmer made the announcement on 2025-09-16.

Issue summary

The statement addresses a Machinery of Government change involving the transfer of certain responsibilities from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Action requested

Keir Starmer announces that apprenticeships, adult further education, skills, training and careers, and Skills England are being transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions as of today, while responsibility for higher education and younger individuals remains with the Department for Education.

Key facts

  • Responsibility for apprenticeships, adult further education, skills, training and careers moves from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions.
  • Baroness Smith of Malvern will serve jointly across both departments.
  • Skills England is also being transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions.
  • This change took effect on 16 September 2025.
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