§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to ensure that post-16 educational opportunities in England and Wales are comparable with those available in the other European Economic Community countries by 1992.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Government's priority is to ensure that wide-ranging opportunities for post-16 education and training are available in this country, and to encourage more young people to take advantage of them. To that end we have developed important new programmes such as the two-year YTS and the certificate of pre-vocational education. Our examination reforms and the Education Reform Bill will help to give more 16-year-olds the motivation and the qualifications they need to stay on, We are working to produce a more rational system of vocational qualifications. We are emphasising to young people and to employers the importance of continuing education and training, not least in order to produce the skilled and productive work force which we will need if we are to continue to compete effectively in Europe after 1992.