Former ministers debate ‘dangerous’ divisions in skills bill

Lords express worries over aspects of the upcoming post-16 skills bill

Former universities ministers have raised concerns about the funding arrangements put forward in the government’s skills and post-16 education bill, and criticised the “dangerous” and “false” divide between further and higher education that could be fuelled by the legislation.

During a debate on the bill in the House of Lords on 15 June, former universities and science minister Jo Johnson warned that although the lifelong loan allowance and provision for modular funding in the bill were welcome, he feared that the Treasury “may water down the rocket fuel of the promised skills revolution”.