§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what conditions, in terms of number of participant pupils, have been required of Orkney islands council in order to qualify for Manpower Services Commission funding for the technical, vocational and educational initiative programme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CopeThe Government intend that all young people aged 14 to 18 in maintained schools and colleges should be given access to the wider and richer curriculum developed by the technical and vocational education initiative. I am pleased that Orkney education authority has indicated its wish to participate in the initiative from this autumn, and proposes that all students aged 14 will take part from the first year. I am informed that negotiations between the Training Commission (formerly the Manpower Services Commission) and the education authority are proceeding satisfactorily on this basis.