Department for Education written question – answered at on 6 February 2026.
Baroness Freeman of Steventon
Crossbench
To ask His Majesty's Government what diploma qualifications they will fund for trainee stonemasons from September 2026.
Baroness Smith of Malvern
Minister of State (Education), Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities) , The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions
On 20 October 2025, alongside the publication of the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, the department published a consultation on post-16 level 3 and below pathways, which closed on 12 January 2026. As part of our consultation, we have been engaging with the sector on transition arrangements. We will set out our response to the consultation in due course.
We will update the information on qualifications funded in the 2026/27 academic year as soon as possible.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
