HC Deb 07 April 1971 vol 815 c219W
Mr. Crouch

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community will necessarily affect Great Britain's present system of secondary school and university examinations.

Mrs. Thatcher

The Treaty of Rome does not refer to education as such and mentions mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other qualifications only in the context of "the right of establishment", namely the freedom to practise a profession or calling in another country.

There have been relevant developments in Europe outside the framework of the Treaty of Rome. Members of the Six have been working for many years with the other members of the Council of Europe on exchanges of information in this field. The Committee responsible for the International Baccalaureate has a small entry for the examination in a number of European countries and this in itself should produce interesting material about the comparability of secondary school courses. There has however been no move to secure uniformity among the Six in the examination systems, and our entry would not of itself necessitate changes.