HC Deb 11 May 1995 vol 259 cc576-7W
Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many, and what proportion of, vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of NVQs as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those, how many have required (i) level 1 NVQs, (ii) level 2 NVQs, (iii) level 3 NVQs and (iv) other level NVQs. [22981]

Mr. Dorrell

The Department of National Heritage does little direct recruitment which necessitates advertising vacancies. However, the Department has conducted two recruitment schemes for administrative assistants in the last three years. In both cases, the entry requirement was stated as two GCSEs or equivalent qualification. The NVQ business administration level 1 was accepted as an equivalent qualification.

The Historic Royal Palaces agency and the Royal Parks agency have not so far specified that candidates must possess NVQs for any job vacancies advertised. However, where a NVQ was held which was clearly linked to levels of skills, competencies or experience required for a particular post, it would be taken into account and accepted in place of other equivalent qualifications.