§ Mr. Merlyn Reesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that negotiations between examining bodies in further education have been proceeding for three years; and if he will inquire into the reasons for this delay with a view either to reaching an early agreement or to the setting up of an inquiry into the whole field of examinations in further education.
§ Mr. CroslandNegotiations have been proceeding for some three years between the City and Guilds of London Institute and the regional examining bodies with a view to revising the agreement on examinations at the "intermediate" level for operatives, craftsmen and technicians, originally drawn up in 1933.
The regional examining bodies have recently been examining revised draft proposals circulated by my Department in November and December last after a meeting between all the parties, and they forwarded proposed amendments to the Department a fortnight ago.
Further discussions with the examining bodies are being arranged, and I have every hope that, given the desire of all parties to reach an agreement, the negotiations may soon be brought to a successful conclusion.