§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to introduce learning vouchers or credits for 16-year-olds; and what funding mechanism is to be used. [32155]
§ Mr. PaiceThe 1995 White Paper "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead", Cm 2867, made it clear that the Government are attracted to learning credits. The third competitiveness White Paper, to be published shortly, will declare the Government's intention to consult on the introduction from 1997 of a system of learning credits,54W setting out for all 16 to 19-year-olds their entitlement to the education or training they choose. This will not require any change to the existing funding mechanisms for schools, colleges or other education and training providers. But the Government will separately be consulting on how best to secure greater convergence of these arrangements in their own right.