I was pleased to speak in support of Labour’s first budget in 14 years, and the first budget to be delivered by a woman Chancellor.

I raised the importance of Further Education in generating growth and building the workforce of the future, and welcomed the extra £300 million of funding announced in the budget.

There is a huge amount of expertise in this Government, including our new Skills Minister, Baroness Jacqui Smith, who will be a strong voice for the value of further education in the skills agenda.

This is the difference a Labour Government makes.