To ask the Minister for the Economy to outline (i) why further education lecturers in Northern Ireland are paid less than in other UK regions; and (ii) what actions she intends to take to address this issue, including the awarding of enhanced pay and conditions.

As you will be aware, salary levels in most professions, including further education (FE), vary across regions of the UK to take account of a range of factors, including local circumstances.

Lecturers’ pay and conditions within the six FE Colleges in Northern Ireland are a matter for the FE colleges themselves as the employers and are the subject of negotiations which have been taking place between Trade Union Side and the College Employers’ Forum. My Department has not been involved in the negotiations. However, if and when an agreement is reached between both

parties through these negotiations, any resulting Business Case will be submitted to the Department for appraisal before coming to myself for approval.

However, I do recognise that the industrial action initiated by the University and College Union will have raised concerns for learners, parents and indeed for staff themselves. I value the important contribution which lecturers in our FE colleges make to building our economy and improving the skills and life outcomes for learners, including many of the most vulnerable in our society and I would encourage both employers and unions to continue to engage to seek a resolution to limit any impact on learners.

In the meantime, it is important that the negotiations are afforded the space needed to reach agreement and it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment at this time.