§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for which training providers the London chamber of commerce and industry verify and award NVQ certificates. [27119]
§ Mr. PaiceThe Department does not hold this information. The National Council for Vocational Qualifications, as accrediting body for NVQs, is provided with details of approved NVQ centres by the London chamber of commerce and industry examinations board under the status of commercial in confidence.
§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will investigate the circumstances surrounding the award of business administration and information technology NVQ qualifications by the London chamber of commerce and industry for courses provided by Sight and Sound and funded by Solotec. [27120]
§ Mr. PaiceI understand that the National Council for Vocational Qualifications is undertaking an investigation into this matter. The Department is being kept fully informed and will received a copy of the report when it is finalised.
§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will carry out a comprehensive review of the way in which NVQs are awarded. [27121]
§ Mr. PaiceNVQs were the subject of a comprehensive review by Gordon Beaumont who reported on the 100 most used NVQs and Scottish vocational qualifications in January. I have agreed an action plan, published on 27 March, in response to his recommendations, which includes actions relating to assessment, verification and certification of awards. These are being taken forward by NCVQ under a major programme of work which is sponsored by this Department.
§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what steps she has taken to ensure that the London chamber of commerce and industry is a suitable body to issue NVQ certificates; [27130]
(2) if she will investigate the suitability of the London chamber of commerce and industry verifiers to assess NVQ portfolios. [27131]
§ Mr. PaiceThe National Council for Vocational Qualifications is responsible for regulating the NVQ system and its quality. The council regularly reviews the performance of awarding bodies to ensure that they have adequate arrangements and resources for quality assurance and that systems approved at the time of NVQ accreditation continue to operate effectively. The council has recently agreed a plan with the London chamber of commerce and industry examinations board requiring354W strengthening of arrangements for centre approval, external verification and internal verification.
§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the Government office for London was first informed about concerns surrounding the award of NVQs by the London chamber of commerce and industry for students attending courses organised by Sight and Sound. [27129]
§ Mr. PaiceThe Government office for London first became aware about concerns surrounding the award of NVQs following information from Solotec on 16 April 1996.