Chamber and committees

Indeed. Last December, £46 million of resource funding was promised to colleges and universities, but the money was withdrawn to fund other aspects of the education portfolio. Is there any intention to bring that £46 million back? In any event, what will happen to the college and university projects that it was intended to resource?

I understand. I will just press that point. Cabinet secretary, more philosophically, do you think that eligibility for free school meals is the best measure on which to decide levels of need in a school and area? Perhaps there is a better way that you might move to.

I am very grateful.

On a related point, the programme for government mentions the

“development of a new funding model for post-school education provision”,

which will include improving parity of financial support for flexible and part-time study. What progress has been made on that? What timescales are you working to, and what is the impact on the budget?

I understand your answer, but I wonder whether you can clarify something. Given that the programme for government is very recent, one would have thought that, before such an announcement was made, some budgetary provision would have been made—a ballpark figure, at least. Was that not done?

That is the question. If you say to councils, “You have to increase your teacher numbers,” and then, for whatever reason, they are unable to do so or do not do so, will consequences arise?

Respectfully, I say that I am not sure that that answered my question, which was about how a £15 million shortfall does not follow through and have an impact.

By all means, we can come back to that, but I will stick with the topic of PEF. It is allocated at school level, based on the number of children who it is estimated take free school meals. Concerns have been raised with me about what will happen when universal free school meals are brought in. How will PEF be calculated then?

Good morning. I have a couple of questions on pupil equity funding. It seems that you are absolutely right that PEF is making a significant difference, but the amount is £130 million—give or take some—which is the same as last year. Had the amount increased with inflation, it would be about £145 million. What does the Government think will be the practical impact of what is, in effect, a reduction in funding, and how will you ensure that local authorities are sufficiently resourced, given that £15 million shortfall?

How are local authorities preparing to deal with the RAAC situation and fund any necessary work?

I am grateful for those answers.