§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards the establishment of the Business Education Council recommended in the Haslegrave Report.
§ Mrs. ThatcherI am pleased to announce that I have appointed Mr. John Bruce Lockhart as Chairman of the Business Education Council; and that I shall shortly issue invitations to others to serve as members. As soon as the membership is complete I shall formally establish the council.
It will be concerned with the development of policies for schemes of further and higher education for people whose occupations fall within the broad area of business and commerce and whose educational needs will not be met by courses and qualifications in the office skills such as shorthand and typewriting, on the one hand, or by degrees or the diploma in higher education, on the other. As proposed in the Haslegrave Report, the council will plan, administer and keep under review the establishment of a unified national system of courses for such people; devise or approve suitable courses; establish and assess standards of performance and award certificates and diplomas to those meeting its requirements. I shall want the council to seek association with the courses and examinations in its field administered by joint committees for national certificates and diplomas and with other relevant examinations until these are replaced. 56W In all its work I see the council proceeding with the fullest possible involvement and co-operation of employers, the professional bodies and the education service, both centrally and at local and regional level. I also expect the council to consult wiith the Technician Education Council about joint action in areas of mutual interest.
As in the case of the Technician Education Council, whose establishment I announced last March, the adminitrative servicing will be provided by the City and Guilds of London Institute.