Committee publication · Correspondence · 12 March 2026

Correspondence with the Department for Work and Pensions, relating to the presentation of skills in the Main Estimate following a Machinery of Government change

Summary

The Work and Pensions Committee approved the Department for Work and Pensions' proposed restructuring of its Main Estimate to accommodate the Machinery of Government change transferring apprenticeships, adult further education, skills, training, careers, and Skills England from the Department for Education to DWP, effective 1 April 2026. The Committee confirmed it was content with the proposed changes on 4 March 2026.

Key findings

DWP proposed three new DEL estimate lines: Apprenticeships (protected budget), Adult Skills (non-ringfenced), and Skills England (as new Executive Agency)
One new AME estimate line created for Industrial Training Boards (ALBs) to report CITB and ECITB together, anticipating their merger in April 2027
Budget transfer takes effect 1 April 2026, though policy responsibility transferred 16 September 2025 following Prime Minister's Written Ministerial Statement
Proposed structure maintains same granularity and visibility as current Department for Education reporting, aligned with HM Treasury best practice
Committee committed to publishing the correspondence as public record of the change

Tone

Procedural

Topics

public-financeskills-and-apprenticeshipsmachinery-of-governmentbudgeting

Key actors

Debbie Abrahams MP, Gary Burns, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education, House of Commons Scrutiny Unit, HM Treasury, Construction Industry Training Board, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board

Notable line

“We are content that the changes be made, so they can be incorporated in the Main Estimate.”

Key Quotes

“… the Machinery of Government change transferring responsibility for apprenticeships, adult further education, skills, training and careers, and Skills England from the Department for Education to the Department for Work and Pensions.”
— Gary Burns · Outlining the scope and timing of the machinery of government change

“We are content that the changes be made, so they can be incorporated in the Main Estimate.”
— Debbie Abrahams MP · Committee approval of DWP's proposed Estimate structure

“This has been agreed with HMT colleagues. We are seeking your endorsement of these changes.”
— Gary Burns · Requesting Committee approval after HM Treasury alignment

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗