§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet come to a conclusion about the recommendations of the report of the working group on vocational courses in the design technician area.
§ Mr. Gerry FowlerThe report has provided a most useful analysis of the problems and a valuable basis for consultations. However, on the central proposal, to establish a separate national body to validate vocational courses in art and design, I have after careful consideration of all the views expressed concluded that it would be inappropriate to establish such a body with the autonomous status envisaged by the working group. I consider it preferable that the task of organising a nationally-recognised form of certification of these courses should be carried out in close relationship with existing validating bodies, and I propose accordingly that consideration be given to establishing such a system in con-164W sultation with TEC and BEC, as well as other relevant bodies.