Third report - A plan for an adult skills and lifelong learning revolution

The government acknowledges the economic, social, and wellbeing benefits of lifelong learning and references the existing Lifetime Skills Guarantee initiative to help adults develop new skills throughout their lives.

The government states it is already undertaking analysis through various means, including the recently announced Skills and Productivity Board which will provide expert analysis, and the ongoing Employer Skills Survey. It also mentions future consultations and reviews of funded qualifications to adapt to changing economic needs.

The government agrees on the need for adult support and states its "Skills for Jobs White Paper" sets out a long-term strategy to reform adult learning, addressing the committee's concerns about short-term, piecemeal policies.

The government accepts the need for an ambitious, long-term strategy, outlining its "Skills for Jobs White Paper" and the Lifelong Loan Entitlement to promote flexible, modular learning. However, it does not specifically commit to the four detailed pillars proposed by the committee.

The government rejects devolving National Careers Service budgets, stating there are no plans. It acknowledges the need for a behaviour change strategy and is exploring a communications strategy for 2021-22 to simplify choices and drive learning uptake.

The government rejects devolving National Careers Service funding. It indicates the website provides robust data and is exploring a communications strategy for 2021-22 to promote learning and address participation barriers.

The government recognises the value of flexible and modular learning, highlighting existing flexible provisions and committing to making the Lifelong Loan Entitlement (from 2025) usable for modules at higher technical and degree levels.

The government acknowledges the value of modular learning, highlighting existing flexible provisions and committing to making the Lifelong Loan Entitlement (from 2025) usable for modules at higher technical and degree levels (4-6). It does not explicitly commit to developing modular offers and a funding approach for all levels as recommended.

The government states it is continuing to invest in adult education through the AEB and highlights the National Skills Fund and Level 3 Adult Offer as substantial investments. However, funding beyond 2021-22 will be considered as part of a wider Spending Review later in the year.

The government states that funding beyond 2021-22, including full costings and the potential for a multi-year settlement, will be considered as part of a wider Spending Review later in the year.

The government outlines its ambition for a simplified and better targeted funding system as part of the Skills for Jobs White Paper and states that a forthcoming consultation will explore how funding can be allocated in a simpler way.

The government plans to introduce a Lifelong Loan Entitlement from 2025, offering a loan equivalent to four years of post-18 education to be used over a lifetime, which aligns with individual control but differs from the recommended grant-funded Individual Learning Accounts scheme; details will be consulted on later.

The government announced plans to introduce a Lifelong Loan Entitlement from 2025, providing individuals with a loan entitlement equivalent to four years of post-18 education, rather than the recommended Individual Learning Accounts. They will consult on the details of this and the National Skills Fund.

The government defers additional funding considerations for the digital skills entitlement and future statutory entitlements to a wider Spending Review later in the year, highlighting existing AEB and Community Learning provisions.

The government's response, despite stating "Accept," discusses existing childcare support for students and working families, which does not address the committee's observation about declining adult enrolments on full level 2 courses.

The government's response discusses its commitment to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision and related funding, but does not address the recommendation to remove funding restrictions for level 2 qualifications for employed adults over 24 or to fund a promotional campaign for adult entitlements.

The government's response discusses its commitment to boosting English language teaching for migrants and existing funding, which does not address the committee's observation about the scope of free level 3 qualifications and the need for retraining.

The government's response discusses its commitment to boosting English language teaching for migrants and existing funding, which does not address the recommendation to extend free level 3 qualifications for unemployed adults to retrain in priority skills sectors.

The government discusses its commitment to boosting English language teaching for migrants and existing funding for this, which is entirely unrelated to the recommendation for local bodies to influence funded Level 3 qualifications based on local labour market needs.

The government's response discusses its commitment to boosting English language teaching and existing funding, which does not address the committee's concern regarding potential poor take-up of the expanded Level 3 entitlement under the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

The government discusses its commitment to boosting English language teaching for migrants and existing funding for this, but does not address the recommendation for a national promotional campaign for all free learning or DWP support for unemployed adults taking advanced skills qualifications.

The government acknowledges the importance of English language teaching and its manifesto commitment to boost it, stating that substantial funding is already available through various provisions.

The government affirms its commitment to boosting English language teaching and highlights substantial existing funding and provision for ESOL. However, it does not commit to taking a lead role for a cross-departmental ESOL strategy, undertaking new demand analysis, or allocating additional targeted funding, stating an update will be provided in due course.

The government acknowledges the need to support adult learners with SEND, highlights existing provisions and general aims from the Skills for Jobs White Paper, and defers specific action to the ongoing cross-government SEND review and a call for evidence.

The government describes existing funding and support for SEND learners, and states that a cross-government SEND review is underway to consider support needs, and they are seeking views on provision improvement, but does not commit to assessing additional funding or introducing a specific funding premium.

The government acknowledges childcare as a barrier and explains its current policy of providing childcare support for full-time students, but not part-time ones due to their study flexibility. It also outlines existing universal childcare offers and support via Universal Credit and Tax-Free Childcare.

The government rejects extending childcare grants to part-time higher education learners, stating that their flexibility allows them to combine work and study. It also explains that the 30-hour free childcare offer is aimed at working families, and does not commit to extending it to unemployed or low-income adult learners as recommended, instead outlining existing provisions like the 15-hour entitlement and Universal Credit support.

The government describes the purpose and existing structure of community learning, the data collected, and ongoing work with MHCLG, stating that funding beyond 2021-22 will be considered in a future Spending Review. However, it does not commit to developing the recommended ambitious, long-term strategy for community learning or directly address the concerns about oversight.

The government highlights existing data collection for adult learning and its close work with MHCLG, including on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. However, it does not commit to a new mapping and publication of community learning centres or a specific ambitious plan for provision, deferring future funding considerations to a spending review.

The government describes the purpose and existing funding for community learning, mentions collaboration on the UKSPF, and states that funding beyond 2021–22 will be considered as part of a wider Spending Review, deferring action on the observed budget cap and bureaucracy.

The government states that funding for community learning beyond 2021-22 will be considered as part of a wider Spending Review later in the year, thereby deferring a decision on a three-year settlement. It describes the current approach to community learning funding and engagement with MHCLG, but does not commit to reviewing and consolidating funding streams.

The government states that training expenditure is already tax deductible and highlights existing incentives like the Apprenticeship Levy, which funds employer-led apprenticeships, implicitly addressing the call for a skills tax credit.

The government does not commit to introducing a new skills tax credit, instead highlighting existing tax deductions, the Apprenticeship Levy, and various other government investments and financial support mechanisms already in place or recently announced to encourage employer investment in skills.

The government explicitly rejects reversing its decision to cease funding the Union Learning Fund, citing limitations of the model such as its focus on employed union members and a lack of evidence that its economic return is exceptional compared to other government investments in skills. It states the funding will instead be used for wider skills and retraining accessible to everyone.

The government explicitly rejects reversing its decision to cease funding the Union Learning Fund, citing limitations of the model such as its focus on employed union members and a lack of evidence that its economic return is exceptional. Consequently, it also rejects setting participation targets, stating the funding will instead be used for wider skills and retraining accessible to everyone.

The government agrees on the need for flexible study, outlining past steps taken such as loans for part-time learners. It also commits to introducing the Lifelong Loan Entitlement from 2025, which will make it easier for adults to study flexibly, and will consult on its details later this year.

The government acknowledges the need for flexible learning and highlights existing support for part-time students. It plans to introduce the Lifelong Loan Entitlement from 2025 to enable more flexible and part-time study, but defers the extension of maintenance loans for distance learners pending a review.

The government acknowledges the importance of degree apprenticeships for productivity and social mobility, highlights existing provisions and their employer-driven nature, and encourages universities to offer more apprenticeships where there is demand.

The government acknowledges the importance of degree apprenticeships and notes existing provision. It encourages universities to offer them based on employer demand but does not commit to a plan for speeding up expansion or mandating all institutions to offer them.

The government commits to consulting in early 2021 on the Lifelong Loan Entitlement, which will include seeking views on whether Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) restrictions should be amended to facilitate retraining.

The government has established the Skills and Productivity Board to identify courses meeting UK economy skill needs. Regarding Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) funding restrictions, it will consult on amending them as part of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement, which is set to be introduced from 2025.

The government confirms it is working closely with other departments to establish the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will work in partnership with devolved administrations and local communities, who will have a place within the fund's governance structures. Further details on the investment framework will be published in the spring.

The government commits to matching EU receipts for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, averaging £1.5 billion a year, and involves devolved administrations and local communities in its governance. However, it indicates direct UK Government investment rather than full devolution of funding allocation to combined authorities.

The government acknowledges the role of local areas in adult skills and lifelong learning, highlighting existing devolution and committing to piloting Local Skills Improvement Plans in early 2021 and establishing a new Strategic Development Fund.

The government acknowledges the role of local areas, citing the devolution of AEB to Mayoral Combined Authorities, and plans to pilot Local Skills Improvement Plans involving Chambers of Commerce and set up a new Strategic Development Fund, but does not commit to awarding specific statutory powers and funding to all local authorities or conducting a comprehensive review of their role.