§ 17. Mr.Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on further progress in the education of 16 to 19 year olds.
§ 38. Mr.Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further steps she is taking to expand educational opportunity for the 16-to-19-year-olds; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. OakesThe proportion of the 1619 year old population engaged in full-time education, either in school or in colleges of further education, continue to increase, and my Department is working with its local authority partners and other agencies, to the fullest extent possible, to develop the educational opportunities open to their young people. In particular, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced in this House on 29th June that resources would be made available to enable local education authorities throughout Great Britain to provide an additional 10,000 places in further education over and above present projections by 1980–81.
§ 23. Mr.Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to improve the support of young people remaining in full-time education beyond the age of 16 years.
§ Mr. OakesI have nothing to add to the answers that I and my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 17th May and 28th June.—[Vol. 932,c. 123–4; Vol. 934, c. 171.].
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§ 25. Mr.Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress she has made in implementing her plans to increase by 10,000 the number of places available in further education.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI held a meeting on 7th July with representatives of the Council for Local Education Authorities, which assured me of the readiness of individual authorities to participate as fully as possible in these new measures. It is my intention to issue guidance in the form of a circular to local education authorities shortly.