§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of his budget is allocated to non-vocational adult education.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsA great deal of non-vocational adult education is undertaken by local education authorities for which allowance is made in the annual local authority revenue settlement. The sums involved are not hypothecated. The Welsh Office budget for adult education is not split between vocational and non-vocational education.
§ Mr. RowlandsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish an inquiry into the state and development of non-vocational adult education in Wales.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsI do not believe that an inquiry is necessary. The White Paper "Education and Training for the 21st Century" sets out the Government's priorities for the provision of further education for adults. The consultation exercise that ensued has brought forward a wide range of views on the future of adult education and these are being considered in detail before we move forward towards legislation.