§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals have been submitted for support under the extension of the technical and vocational education initiative to Scotland; and what decisions have been reached upon them.
§ Mr. YoungerThe technical and vocational initiative is designed to stimulate the further development of technical and vocational education for 14 to 18-year-olds by providing resources for education authorities to run pilot schemes.
Proposals were submitted by all but two regional councils and by one islands council following the extension of the scheme to Scotland which was announced on 27 January. The Manpower Services Commission has recommended that it should enter into detailed negotiations on six proposals and I have agreed that it should do so.
The six schemes concerned are those submitted by:
Borders Central Dumfries and Galloway Fife Glasgow Division Strathclyde Renfrew Division Final acceptance of these proposals for support under the initiative is subject to the outcome of the discussions in each case. It is intended that the schemes should be in operation from the beginning of the 1984–85 school year.