§ 13. Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to announce his new programme for lifelong learning. [8608]
§ Dr. HowellsMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will set out his plans for lifelong learning in a White Paper to be published in the autumn.
§ Mr. SheermanDoes my hon. Friend agree that lifelong learning must suffuse our whole education system? Does he also agree that it must play a part in the decisions announced yesterday on the Dearing report? Will he assure me that every business that has a good scheme for lifelong learning will be consulted, and that we shall look at best practice in all universities nationally and internationally before we make our decisions?
§ Dr. HowellsThere are some excellent schemes for education and staff development in many of our leading firms. I would very much like lifelong learning to include proposals on how best small and medium enterprises, as well as everyone else involved in manufacture and education, can access those centres of excellence. I hope that that information can be disseminated throughout society.