SHADOW Education Secretary and Ashton and Failsworth MP Angela Rayner has hit out following the government's announcement over the creation of 12 "institutes of technology" across the country.

The institutes – set to be built at colleges and universities in London, the Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Durham, Wiltshire, Devon, Lincoln, Somerset and York – intend to provide high-quality skills training.

But Labour has denounced the plans as too small scale and not helpful to the majority of technical education students.

Ms Rayner said: “While investment in further education is desperately needed, this announcement will do nothing for the overwhelming majority of providers and students in technical education. The £170 million re-announced is nowhere near to the £3 billion in real terms cuts to further and adult education since 2010.

“When they first announced this policy years ago the Government said they would make higher-level technical education available in all areas, yet this list does not include a single university or college in the North West.

“A Labour government will invest in the entire sector, including scrapping advanced learner loans and increasing teacher numbers, and ensure widespread collaboration across the higher and further education sectors as part of a National Education Service.”

The institutes will start to open from this autumn supported by £170 million of funding.