Press release: PM: post-18 education must work better for everyone
Prime Minister Theresa May has welcomed the findings of an independent review.
Further and higher education must work better for students, universities and taxpayers, the Prime Minister will say as she welcomes the publication of an independent review into post-18 education.
The Prime Minister ordered the review specifically to ensure young people have more choice, can access the highest quality courses, and receive the best possible value for money.
An expert panel – led by Philip Augar – has today (30 May 2019) published 53 recommendations for Government.
While their report says there are overwhelming strengths to the UK’s education system, the Prime Minister strongly agrees with a number of the issues identified.
In particular, she calls for a reintroduction of student maintenance grants to support those from low income families. The report is clear that a minimum grant of £3,000 per year for the lowest income families would see debt for these students reduce by over £9,000.
Whilst those from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely than ever to go to university, the Prime Minister will also say progress is too slow. Last year, some universities failed to improve their intake of students from disadvantaged backgrounds for the first time in more than a decade.
The report says the removal of maintenance grants is deterring some less well-off young people, and recognises strong concerns about the highest levels of debt being incurred by disadvantaged students following grants being abolished.
She is expected to say:
I was not surprised to see the panel argue for the reintroduction of means-tested maintenance grants both for university students and those studying for higher technical qualifications. Such a move would ensure students are supported whichever route they choose, and save those from the poorest backgrounds over £9,000.
It will be up to the Government to decide, at the upcoming Spending Review, whether to follow this recommendation.
But my view is very clear: removing maintenance grants from the least well-off students has not worked, and I believe it is time to bring them back.
The Prime Minister will also say that we must significantly increase support for further education.
Despite the Government boosting education or training places for every 16 to 19-year old, rolling out T Levels, and creating high-quality apprenticeships, she will say more must be done for the 50 per cent of young people who do not go to university.
In Germany, 20 per cent of 25-year-olds hold a higher technical qualification – yet the figure in the UK is just four per cent.
She will argue that:
By failing to equip more of our young people with the technical skills they will need to compete in the jobs of the future, we have hampered our national ability to compete on the world stage.
So reinvigorating FE is vital if we are to help all our young people develop the skills they need to get on – and if we are to truly make a success of our modern industrial strategy.
The PM is also expected to say that:
Making a success of FE is not just about increased funding – it’s about giving these young people a genuine choice about their education.
So more also needs to be done to ensure that further and technical options are every bit as attractive a path for students as more academic options – including by reforming the sector so that colleges can thrive.
The Prime Minister will also call for reform to tuition fees to ensure value for money for students and the taxpayer. She will say that while the majority of courses provide good outcomes for students, this is no longer true across the board, and many courses do not cost £9,000 per student per year to teach.
She will say:
There is much to be said for the panel’s proposal to cut fees and top up the money from Government, protecting the sector’s income overall but focussing more of that investment on high-quality and high-value courses.
I know there are some, including the Labour Opposition, who will reject this finding because they want to abolish fees altogether.
Such a move would be regressive and destructive – hurting our institutions and limiting the opportunities for our young people.
But the Prime Minister also agrees that universities must continue to be properly funded, so that teaching grants for high value courses are protected.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister is expected to say:
I have always believed and I still truly believe that, if this is to be a country that works for everyone, then we have to make education work for everyone.
But only by taking action now will we be able to deliver the lasting change and improvements we need in further and higher education.
And give every child and young person in this country the education they need to reach their true, incredible potential.
The Government will now consider the panel’s proposals carefully, and engage further with stakeholders and students, before finalising its approach at the Spending Review.
News story: Have your say on the future of Companies House
The register plays a vital role in contributing to the UK’s economy, and these reforms will allow us to do even more.
What the consultation is about
This package of reforms is a big milestone for Companies House and will be the most significant change since the register was created in 1844.
The government’s vision, set out in the Industrial Strategy, is for the UK to be the best place to start and grow a business. The proposed reforms will help us to achieve this vision and to do more to provide a transparent and attractive business environment in the UK.
The changes will give us the powers we need to combat economic crime and improve protection for people running businesses, while minimising additional administrative burdens.
To support and implement the proposals in this consultation, we’ll be transforming the way we work at Companies House and making sure we’re fit for the future.
1. Knowing who’s setting up, managing and controlling companies
We’re proposing that directors, people with significant control (PSCs) and those filing information should have their identity verified. We’re also considering whether more information should be disclosed about shareholders.
2. Improving the accuracy and usability of data
The proposals will result in better quality information on the register. Proposals include extending the powers of Companies House to query information before it’s entered on the register and making it easier to remove inaccurate information.
3. Protecting personal information
The proposals will allow us to change the way we store and control access to personal information. Access to the register will be carefully managed, allowing only identified or authorised people to file information. Sensitive information will also be better protected.
4. Improving the detection of possible criminal behaviour
We’ll be able to improve the cross checking of our data against data held by other organisations. We want to see the exchange of intelligence made easier so we can quickly identify possible criminal behaviour.
You have until 5 August 2019 to respond to the consultation and tell us what you think. We look forward to hearing your views.
Press release: Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing application
Today, Tuesday 28 May 2019, The Planning Inspectorate accepted for examination an application by Norfolk County Council for a proposed new highway crossing of River Yare, Great Yarmouth, connecting Harfrey’s Roundabout to the west of the River Yare with South Denes Road to the east of the River Yare.
The application was submitted on 30 April 2019 and the decision to accept the application was made in accordance with section 55 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended). The legislation allows 28 days from the day after the date of receipt of an application for the Planning Inspectorate to decide whether or not to accept it.
The Planning Act 2008 (as amended) sets high standards for applications and places a strong duty upon developers to involve the local community, local authorities and other stakeholders in the development of their proposal, ahead of submission.
Sarah Richards, Chief Executive of The Planning Inspectorate said: “We have considered very carefully the application submitted by Norfolk County Council and decided that it meets the required tests set out in the legislation to be accepted for examination.
“Of course, this does not mean that consent has been given for the project to go ahead – acceptance of the application simply means that the Examining Authority can begin to make arrangements for the formal examination of the application”.
It is now for Norfolk County Council to publicise the fact that its application has been accepted to proceed to examination and invite people who are interested in the proposal to register with the Planning Inspectorate as an Interested Party by making a Relevant Representation.
Interested Parties in an application can:
Say what they agree or disagree with in the application and why
Comment on what other people have said in their representations
Attend the preliminary meeting and say how they think the application should be examined
Request that an open floor hearing is held
Attend an open floor or issue-specific hearing
Request to speak at a hearing.
Sarah Richards said. “Shortly, the public will be invited to register as interested parties in this proposal, giving them their first opportunity to make formal representations to the Inspectorate whether they object to or support the project. Everyone who registers in the correct way can be sure that their evidence will be considered by the independent Examining Authority who will be appointed to examine the case. “
Sarah added: “A major priority for us over the next few weeks is to continue our work with communities who are affected by this proposal, to ensure that the process is understood, and people know how and when to register as an Interested Party.”
Ends
Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate’s Press Office, on: 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email: press.office@planninginspctorate.gov.uk
More information on this application, including details of the developer’s website, is available in National Infrastructure’s Programme of Projects. Visit: the Projects page at https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/
Notes to editors:
The Planning Inspectorate is an agency of the Ministry for Housing, communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and operates within the policy framework prescribed in the Planning Act 2008, secondary legislation and the National Policy Statements.
The process in a snapshot
There are six key stages within the process. The summary below provides examples of when and how people have an opportunity to provide evidence to the Planning Inspectorate.
Pre-application
Key activities:
Project development / developer’s pre-application consultation and publicity.
Environmental impact assessment preparation and scoping, where required.
Public involvement:
Have their say on the proposal to the developer through their pre application consultation
Acceptance by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State
Key activities:
The Secretary of State has 28 days from the day after receipt to decide whether or not an application should be accepted for examination
Public involvement:
Details will be posted at the Planning Inspectorate’s website on how to register as an interested party – if an application has been accepted for examination and publicised by the developer.
Opportunity to legally challenge a decision not to accept an application.
Pre-examination
Key activities:
Single Inspector or a Panel of Inspectors appointed.
Preliminary Meeting called and held.
Procedure and timetable set for examination.
Public involvement:
Register to say what you agree or disagree with in the application
Submit your representation
View application documents submitted by the developer on the Planning Inspectorate website
Attend the Preliminary Meeting
Say how the examination should be conducted.
Examination
Key activities:
A maximum of six months to carry out the examination
Public involvement:
Submit more detailed comments in writing
Comment on what other people have said
Request and attend an open-floor hearing
If being held, request to speak at open-floor and / or issue specific hearing(s)
Comment on the local authority’s Local Impact Report – detailing the impact of the scheme on the local area.
Decision
Key activities:
A maximum of three months for Planning Inspectorate to issue a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State, with a statement of reasons.
The relevant Secretary of State then has a further three months from receiving the recommendation in which to issue the decision.
Post decision
Key activities:
Six weeks for any legal challenge.
Public involvement:
Opportunity to challenge.
News story: ESFA announces European Social Fund providers in 38 local enterprise partnership areas
ESFA has announced 47 providers who have secured European Social Fund (ESF) funding. These providers will help to develop the skills of young people and adults in 38 local enterprise partnership areas, to make sure existing workforce skills are enhanced and young people can secure employment or progress to further education and training.
The 47 ESF funded providers secured a total of £315 million through a stringent procurement process, which adhered to EU rules of open, fair and competitive tendering, and was conducted in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015.
The ESF helps people get better jobs and ensures fairer job opportunities for all EU citizens. It works by investing in Europe’s workers, young people and all those seeking a job.
From 1 April 2019 to 31 July 2021, the 47 ESF providers, spread across England, will work in local communities to increase participation in education, training and employment.
They will do this by developing the skills of potential and existing workforces and by supporting young people into education. The focus will be on those who find it hard to engage in education and training and in areas with higher rates of youth unemployment.
We invited bidders to tender against four opportunities in ESF investment priority areas:
Access to employment for jobseekers and inactive people – including the long-term unemployed and people far from the labour market, through local employment initiatives and support for labour mobility
Sustainable integration of young people into the labour market
Active inclusion
Equal access to lifelong learning for all age groups in formal, non-formal and informal settings to upgrade their knowledge, skills and competencies for the workforce, by promoting flexible pathways including careers guidance and validation of acquired competencies
More information about the individual projects will be available on the Contracts Finder shortly.
We will publish versions of the provider contracts in English and Polish, in line with ESF regulations, within the next couple of months.
