§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are taken to ensure that the National Council for Vocational Qualifications is doing sufficient to set standards for training; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NichollsThe National Council for Vocational Qualifications does not itself have responsibility for setting standards for training, although it has an important role in approving qualifications based upon standards.
Encouraging the development of occupational standards and the nationally recognised vocational qualifications based upon them is a key objective of the Training Agency. It carries out this remit by providing specialist advice, and financial assistance to almost 150 lead bodies each responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining standards and qualifications for the occupational area it represents. The Training Agency is confident that this will lead to standards being available by 1991 up to NCVQ level IV for at least 90 per cent. of the employed population.