§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the importance placed on the promotion of vocational education within the schools system.[137545]
§ Mr. MilibandWe attach great importance to vocational education in schools and are taking many steps to promote it as a first class option for all pupils. Not only have we made available eight GCSEs in vocational subjects, and backed them up with the £120 million 'Increased Flexibility for 14–16 Year Olds' programme, but we are also developing more GCSEs in vocational subjects and work-related learning will become a statutory requirement for all in 2004.
In the longer term, we will be considering the recommendations of the 14–19 Working Group as to how we can strengthen vocational programmes for young people.