HC Deb 28 February 1989 vol 148 c162W
89. Mr. David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications in rationalising vocational qualifications.

Mr. Cope

The National Council for Vocational Qualifications, with the support of industry and the examining and awarding bodies, has established a four-level framework for national vocational qualifications (NVQ) and is making good progress in accrediting qualifications within that framework.

Qualifications are accredited only if they are based on nationally agreed standards of competence; they are then allocated to the appropriate NVQ level. This process is already producing a clearer and more comprehensible qualifications system, and has led in some areas to the replacement of several awards by a single NVQ.

So far, more than 80 qualifications from many sectors of industry and commerce have been accredited, and the council is on target to have levels one to four in place in all significant sectors of employment by 1991.

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