To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) for her assessment of the role of further education lecturers in delivering her Department’s skills agenda; and (ii) to detail how this is reflected in current pay and workforce policy.

I strongly believe that the Further Education lecturers play a vital role in helping to provide individuals with the necessary skills and education to deliver on my skills agenda, and my wider vision for the economy. In recognition of this role, I am pleased that I was able to facilitate a multi-year pay offer for Further Education lecturers. In relation to workforce policy, the Further Education colleges, as the employers, are progressing a range of agreed workstreams, including workload, in conjunction with Trade Unions in the 2025/26 academic year.