Valerie raises ESOL funding at Business Questions to the Leader of the House

Given the Prime Minister’s statement earlier in the week about learning English I asked a question to the Leader of the House on Thursday 21 January 2016. I visited Walsall Adult Community College who had their grant cut without consultation. The students I met were very concerned about the removal of their service. The College rated outstanding was left with no option. I asked:

Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab): Following the point made by the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies), may we have an urgent debate on cuts to funding for English for speakers of other languages? Walsall Adult Community College has had £380,000 cut from its budget for doing what the Prime Minister asked it to do. The Prime Minister has now allocated £20 million, so please can the college have its money back?

Chris Grayling: The hon. Lady makes a strong representation on behalf of her local college, and I am sure that the appropriate Minister will take that into account as he looks at how we use this money to the best possible effect.