PARTIALLY ACCEPT The Government recognises the risk of cold-spots emerging across geographies, subjects and key public service pipelines, particularly as more students study locally. We agree that stronger local coordination is important. LSIPs already bring together providers, employers and local stakeholders to align provision with regional skills needs, alongside the strategic role of MCAs in local skills systems via their role as commissioners of adult education and broader remit in driving growth. As set out in the Post16 Education and Skills White Paper, the Government’s vision is for providers to work together more closely to ensure there is a comprehensive and coherent local offer for learners, including through stronger collaboration between further and higher education providers alongside employers and local partners. As previously outlined, the Office for Students is also taking forward development and delivery of the Market Monitoring Function announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, to improve the evidence base on the demand for and supply of higher education provision. The Market Monitoring Function will highlight any gaps between demand, supply and local need, and help identify areas where there are cold spots in availability of provision to inform better regional coordination. The Office for Students is also considering the future of Uni Connect and the potential for regional access partnerships to drive greater collaborative action around access in different places across the country. Building on this, regional disparities and cold spots are being explored by the Access and Participation Task and Finish Group which includes sector experts, school and college representatives and is being chaired by Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Derby. The Group’s emerging thinking highlights the need to look at solutions to stubborn gaps in access for disadvantaged people with place in mind. It is due to report in January 2027 with its findings. However, higher education providers are autonomous institutions, and decisions on provision remain for them. While we support closer collaboration, we do not support formal co-design or commissioning of higher education provision by local or regional bodies.