HC Deb 13 April 1999 vol 329 cc164-5W
Dr. Kumar

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has held with Middlesbrough Borough Council regarding improvements in education results; and if he will make a statement. [79411]

Ms Estelle Morris

Within the past twelve months, the Standards and Effectiveness Unit's advisers for Middlesbrough have had five meetings with the local education authority in relation to the authority's Education Development Plan (EDP) and a number of meetings to discuss Middlesbrough's Education Action Zone (EAZ), its literacy and numeracy targets, and other standards issues.

Middlesbrough has now established a rigorous process to support statutory target setting in order to make improvements on its results, and last week Middlesbrough's EDP was given approval for the full three years. I also understand that the work on the EAZ is progressing well.