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17
Jul
Adult skills budget cut 'risks cutting off opportunity' for those most in need, says MP
Harrogate and Knaresborough's Liberal Democrat MP, Tom Gordon, has spoken in Parliament to warn of the danger posed by a £90,000 cut to Harrogate College's adult skills budget.
Mr Gordon said the funding reduction, introduced by the new York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority under Mayor David Skaith, risked shutting down vital training and job opportunities for local residents, and warned that it would leave the college with fewer resources at a time when many adult learners are struggling to access training opportunities.
Speaking in the House of Commons this morning, Mr Gordon questioned whether devolved authorities such as the new York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which Mr Skaith leads, can effectively support communities without being properly resourced.
Mr Gordon said:
The cuts to Harrogate College’s adult skills budget by Mayor Skaith highlight a fundamental problem: devolving responsibility without providing the funding to match simply doesn’t work.
When devolved authorities are handed new powers but not the resources to deliver, it’s our communities that pay the price.
This funding helps people retrain, return to work, and build better futures. Slashing it risks cutting off opportunity for those who need it most. Harrogate College should be supported to thrive, not forced to scale back because of inadequate funding.
The adult skills budget supports local residents to gain new qualifications, retrain for different careers, or access further learning to help them secure employment. Mr Gordon warned that cuts to this funding are damaging both to individuals and to the wider economy, as they result in a reduction in the pipeline of skilled workers.
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