§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what review he has undertaken of the future position of A-levels in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 25 February 1991]The current review of A-level study in England and Wales will continue to be monitored in Northern Ireland. I fully share the desire of the Secretary of State for Education and Science to maintain existing high standards of A-levels.
The Northern Ireland Schools Examinations and Assessment Council is obliged by the provisions of the Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 to seek to ensure that the standards of its examinations and assessments are equivalent to those elsewhere in the United Kingdom. In Northern Ireland, therefore, we would expect to conform to whatever developments take place in Great Britain.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the level of access funds allocated to each institution and area board in Northern Ireland and the amounts allocated to students to date.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 25 February1991]: The sums allocated to the institutions and boards and the amounts so far disbursed to students are: 603W
Allocated Disbursed £000 £000 Queen's University, Belfast 169 50 University of Ulster 150 127 Stranmillis College of Education 15 4 St. Mary's College of Education 14 14 Belfast Education and Library Board 29 16 North-Eastern Education and Library Board 29 6 South Eastern Education and Library Board 29 22 Southern Education and Library Board 29 9 Western Eduction and Library Board 28 21 Access fund allocations to universities are for the full 1990–91 academic year while those to colleges of education and area boards are for the financial year ending 31 March 1991 and therefore cover only the first two terms of the academic year.