§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when Her Majesty's Government will be announcing their proposals for the vocational preparation for young people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MulleyThe Government have today published a statement announcing a programme of pilot schemes of unified vocational preparation for young people who leave school at 16 and receive little or no further education or training. The programme will be a joint venture of the Education Departments and the Training Services Agency, in collaboration with local education authorities and industrial training boards and in association with other interests. Its purpose will be to establish what forms of vocational preparation will attract young people and win the support of their employers. The first pilot schemes should start in the autumn. Copies of the statement have been placed in the Library of the House, and will be widely distributed to educational training and other interested bodies. A joint circular from the Department of Education and Science and the Welsh Education Office has been sent to local education authorities.