Gordon Marsden MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Universities, Further Education and Skills, commenting on the publication of the Public Accounts Committee report into Further Education, said:

“This authoritative cross-party report raises a red light danger signal about the future of our further education colleges and providers, and confirms the damage this government has done to further education.

“Labour has consistently warned that such a short-sighted approach to further education risks worsening the skills emergency that businesses and industry are facing; at the same time falling investment in sixth forms and further education has already put colleges up and down the country under strain, with more real terms cuts to come.

“Three quarters of sixth form colleges have already dropped courses in subjects key to our country’s competitiveness, such as modern languages and science, and A-level students now face the prospect of being taught for just three hours a day.

“This Government is lacking a clear strategy for a sector that is vital for our future economic growth – this is limiting opportunities for our young people and holding our country back.”