Don’t get me wrong, it was an incident filled Budget, from the accidental early preview/leak, through to the scrapping of the two-child benefit limit.
But we were on the lookout for support for adult learners. And even after scouring the Treasury papers which support the Budget, none was to be found.
I know this may seem a little parochial or single-minded. Surely there was much else to discuss in the Budget – there are after all reams of column inches in the press, and everything think tank has a webinar to pore over it.
But adult learning touches so many areas that it is almost unbelievable that it features so little.
Here are a few of the announcements from Wednesday which could have been enhanced or improved through taking that one step further and linking to an investment in adult learning:
- 250 new local patient health centres – a very welcome commitment to community health which also links to other services. They can be hubs for social prescribing (where GPs recommend activities, like adult learning, as part of wellbeing care) but only if the investment is there.
- Free apprenticeships in small and medium size enterprises – but only for young people under 25. Many people over that age running or working in SMEs lack the time or capacity to fit in additional training and learning. Where can they turn for support?
- More flexibility for Mayors to spend devolved budgets on priorities identified locally – now this measure, could and should include adult skills and lifelong learning. But we know that national and regional guidance tends towards a relatively narrow focus on skills for work, leaving the wider benefits of lifelong learning unsupported. At the WEA, we are increasingly focused on persuaded devolved authorities to take a broader and more imaginative approach in line with the full range of local need.
- Analogue to digital – throughout the Budget, echoing many recent announcements relating to the NHS and many other public services, there is a drive towards digital delivery. High tech digital innovation is also part of the growth agenda. But with around 9 million people struggling with everyday digital skills, shouldn’t the Budget have also boosted support for the essentials. We risk a two-tier digital nation if we are not careful.
- The Arts, Mental Health and Literacy & Numeracy – adult learning wasn’t the only thing overlooked in the Budget. Several areas, often readily associated with adult learning, were also notable by their absence. A few references to boosting the Creative Industries (often again linked with tech, such as video gaming) but nothing broader for theatres and galleries. Silence on Mental Health despite the severe challenges we have as a nation. And even closer to home, nothing relating to the essential skills of literacy and numeracy even when millions of adults would welcome support in these areas.
So, when we’re looking for adult learning – and not finding it – it’s not short sighted or special pleading. Adult learning could enhance any number of measures already in the Budget, making the links to the communities who could benefit most and see genuine transformation.
As the first Budget after the Spending Review – when overall government spending was set out in some detail – we perhaps might not have expected big shifts in direction. Even so, the failure to address the ongoing impacts of the 6% cut to adult skills budgets is still hugely disappointing.
So now we look ahead – to a promised review of essential skills, which was mentioned in the recent White Paper. We have no details on the scope or timing of this but surely it needs to address the ongoing challenge of low adult literacy, numeracy and digital skills.
To the roll out of further devolution to Mayoral and Strategic Authorities, encouraging Mayors and other local Leaders to be more ambitious and wide ranging with the use of their skills and learning budgets, especially now greater flexibility is allowed.
And inevitably to the Spring Statement – not as big as the Autumn Budget but nonetheless a key milestone in the direction of Government investment and a chance once more to rectify the years of underinvestment in lifelong learning.
