§ 15. Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress is being made in the promotion of technical education.
§ Mr. PattenThe launch of the new and independent further education sector on 1 April is a clear demonstration of the high priority we are giving to developing the technical and other skills the country needs. We are funding a record 25 per cent. increase in the number of students entering further education over the next three years, and shall see higher and more relevant achievement—not least through the new general national vocational qualifications.
§ Mr. HealdDoes my right hon. Friend agree that technical education is one of the key factors for investment by industry in Britain? Will he welcome the results that have just come out for 1990, showing that 20 per cent. of those entering degree courses in engineering already have vocational qualifications? Does he agree that we will build 150 on that with the NVQ system, and that that will be good for jobs, for investment in Britain and, above all, good for this country?
§ Mr. PattenIt is important that universities and other higher education institutions treat vocational qualifications seriously, because we should have been doing that for a very long time. I also applaud the excellent work of further education colleges, some teaching to degree level, not least the excellent North Hertfordshire college.