MPs to question Skills England on impact of DWP move

Wednesday 22 April 2026, 10.00, Committee Room 6

Skills England bosses will be questioned by the Work and Pensions Committee on the organisation's work in its first session since oversight of it was moved from the Department for Education to the DWP.

The body is tasked with understanding what skills the UK needs, simplifying access to them, and bringing together employers and other partners to help deliver them.

The session comes amidst a skills shortage and a youth employment crisis, with around 1 million not in employment, training or education (NEET).

The Committee will ask about Skills England's assessment of the UK's skills gap, its understanding of the NEET crisis and its role in increasing youth employment, education and training.

MPs are also expected to examine the impact of moving the skills brief to DWP and of cross-departmental working for delivering Skills England's priorities.

Witnesses

From 10.00

Phil Smith OBE, Chair, Skills England;

Tessa Griffiths CBE, co-CEO Skills England;

Gemma Marsh, DCEO, Skills England.