I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 25, 38, 49, 54 and 57 together.
The change will reduce the overall number of PLC teaching posts by 200 and may lead to some reduction in subject choices for students but not approved places. CEOs of VECs have until next September to plan how best to deal with this change so that they can continue to deliver programmes which meet the needs of students and employers. In doing so regard will have to be had to the relevance of courses to the labour market, numbers undertaking courses, completion rates, certification rates and progression rates as well as the capacity for amalgamation of courses or modular delivery, etc. The Government's commitment to education, upskilling and retraining is evidenced by my Department's funding over 430,000 part-time and full-time education and training places across the range of provision in the higher education, further education and training sectors in 2013.