Further Education

That this House has considered the importance of Further Education (FE) in the UK; acknowledges the impact of FE in educating 1.7 million people each year, and its centrality to the levelling up agenda; raises anger over the impact of the drastic FE funding cuts of 14 per cent per pupil between 2010-2020; expresses deep concern over the findings in the University and Colleges’ Union report entitled On the Breadline - The cost of living crisis for England’s college workers in which 96 per cent of FE staff say their income does not cover the cost of living or just about covers it, 82 per cent say their financial situation has impacted their mental health and 70 per cent plan to leave sector within 5 years; celebrates FE staff who are dedicated and hardworking despite the difficulties within the sector; and urges the Government to reverse the austerity cuts to FE and to give staff a proper above inflation pay rise.