HC Deb 16 July 1991 vol 195 cc159-60W
Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a breakdown of the responses received to the White Paper "Education and Training", Cm. 1536, giving(a) the total number of responses and (b) the number received from (i) governing bodies of colleges, (ii) local education authorities, (iii) bodies representative of business and commerce, (iv) bodies representative of teaching staff and (v) others, with the proportion of responses in favour, and against, the proposals for a central funding council.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

My Department has so far received more than 1,500 letters commenting on the recent White Paper on education and training. Responses are still coming in. I invited comments on the proposals to enable me to arrive at better informed decisions in due course. I do not believe that the responses will lend themselves to analysis in the way that the hon. Member requests.

Mr. Straw

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will deposit in the Library copies of all responses received to the White Paper "Education and Training", Cm. 1536.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

My Department has received over 1,500 responses to the White Paper, "Education and Training for the 21st Century". Responses are still coming in. I did not invite those responses on the basis that they would be public documents. I do not believe that the process of consultation will be helped if they were now turned into public documents.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment has been made of the implications for non-vocational adult education, of the proposals in the White Paper "Education and Training for the 21st Century".

Mr. Eggar

The proposals in the White Paper will increase educational opportunities for adults. The further education funding councils will have a duty to secure adequate provision of education leading not only to vocational qualifications, but to GCSEs, AS and A levels, access to other further education or higher education, acquisition of basic skills, English for speakers of other languages and education for adults with special educational needs. Local education authorities will retain the duty to secure adequate provision of other kinds of further education. Our proposals will make it easier for secondary schools to admit adults to their classes or to put on courses for adults on their own initiatives.