UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGES

That this House welcomes the extra funding in the 2011 Budget that will boost the number of university technical colleges from 12 to as many as 24 to open by 2014; believes that this will transform vocational education in the UK, as it advances not just economic efficiency and growth but social justice as well; congratulates Lord Baker, Michael Gove and John Hayes and all the supporting charities and organisations, such as EDGE and the Baker-Dearing Trust, for their years of work in developing this vision; notes that Harlow Collegeis now working closely with partners to bid for a university technical college in Harlow; further welcomes the Government's and Lord Baker's support and enthusiasm for this bid; and concludes thatuniversity technical colleges will do a huge amount to tackle the twin problems of youth unemployment and the skills deficit, and are one of the most important educational reforms of recent years.