Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords] Report Stage: New Clause 4

Parliament voted on 31 March 2025 on New Clause 4 to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill at Report Stage. The new clause would have established Skills England as an independent statutory body corporate, separate from direct ministerial control, and required the Secretary of State to transfer functions to it by regulation within a year of the Act passing. The motion was defeated by 306 votes to 167. The vote decided whether Skills England, which absorbs the functions of the abolished Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), would operate at arm's length from government or remain under the direct authority of the Secretary of State. Under the Bill as passed, ministers retain direct control over the body's functions. Supporters of the new clause argued that statutory independence is essential to protect the credibility and integrity of skills qualifications, particularly apprenticeship standards. Opponents argued that placing Skills England under ministerial control allows faster delivery of reform in a sector they said had suffered falling apprenticeship starts under the previous government. The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All 263 Labour MPs and all 35 Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted did so against the new clause. Conservatives (95), Liberal Democrats (64), Reform UK (4), the Democratic Unionist Party (4), the Ulster Unionist Party (1), and Traditional Unionist Voice (1) all voted in favour. The Greens voted against, and four Independents voted against. There were no cross-party rebels recorded on either side. The result mirrors two closely related divisions on the same day: New Clause 1 (defeated 168 to 302) and Amendment 6 (defeated 166 to 305), both of which also sought to strengthen the independence or accountability of Skills England.