Plans to merge the provision of post-16 education and training outside universities under a single national body have been announced by the Education Secretary, David Blunkett.

The government is planning to set up a national Learning Skills Council to take responsibility for the funding and contracting of further education and training.

These functions will be administered sub-regionally by between 40 and 50 local Learning Skills Councils.

Employers' input

The national body, announced in a White Paper on post-16 education and training reform called Learning to Succeed, will cater for more than five million students. It will have a budget of �5bn each year.

David Blunkett: 'We need to ensure high standards'

It will merge the functions of the Further Education Funding Council and the Training and Enterprise Councils, and will have separate committees focusing on the needs of 16 to 19-year-olds and adult learners.

Employers will have the largest single input into the local councils, with trade unions, local government and the users of the service "fully represented", Mr Blunkett said.

Further consultation on plans for sixth form funding will be carried out this summer.

Mr Blunkett said he wanted to see more co-operation between school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and further education.

David Blunkett: School sixth form funding levels to be maintained

And he highlighted the disparity in funding for students between institutions - school sixth forms currently receive more per head than colleges.

He said: "Over a period, we will wish to develop the principle of equivalent funding for equivalent courses."

But he added: "We will also guarantee that the present level of funding for any school sixth for will be at least maintained in real terms, provided student numbers do not fall."

Unveiling the White Paper in the Commons, on Wednesday, Mr Blunkett said there was "too little clarity, co-ordination and coherence between further education and training.

Inspection 'rigour and coherence'

"There is too much duplication and there are too many layers in contracting and funding.

"The proposals I am announcing today will support the tripartite responsibility of employers, learners and government. We need to ensure high standards in further education and training, effective planning and funding, and the delivery of national targets."

Theresa May: "Seldom have we waited so long for so little"

Mr Blunkett also announced a new approach to advice on careers. He said new programme, called Connexions, would address the needs of young people in this area.

A new youth support service was proposed, to modernise and reform the Careers Service, and improve links with the Youth Service.

Mr Blunkett said the inspection of post-16 education and training would be given greater "rigour and coherence".

Theresa May: 'The proposals have failed young people and other learners'

The government is to create an adult learning inspectorate for post-19 education and training, and work-based training for students of any age, which will work with the Office for Standards in Education on the inspection of colleges for students aged between 16 and 19.

Mr Blunkett said: "Our proposals will make it easier to improve standards, to increase the skills of our workforce, to foster greater efficiency and co-ordination between national training organisations, work-based training, employers and formal providers.

"They will help our young people to make better and more informed choices about the best route to success, and they will focus resources on the needs of learners.

"Above all, we aim to modernise learning and skills for the economic challenges of the new century. Investment in human capital will be the foundation of success both in economic terms and in building a cohesive society."

Mr Blunkett said the new arrangements for post-16 education and training would "cut through duplication and unnecessary bureaucracy", saving at least �50m to fund the needs of learners.

But the Shadow Education and Employment Secretary Theresa May said the proposals would "increase bureaucracy and red tape" and "reduce diversity."