§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what local discretion he will allow to(a) further education colleges and (b) local learning and skills councils in determining entitlement to free study for a Level 2 qualification. [129696]
§ Alan JohnsonThe eligibility criteria for the new entitlement to free learning at Level 2, announced in the Skills Strategy White Paper, will be determined nationally. Our intention is to encourage those not already qualified at full Level 2 to achieve at that level.686W However, further education colleges will continue to have the discretion to waive fees for learners studying at Level 2 who are not covered by the national entitlement.