HL Deb 11 December 1979 vol 403 cc1134-5WA
Baroness DAVID

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) Whether they will give the names of the members of the Macfarlane Committee looking into education and training of 16 to 18 year olds and the names of those on the supporting subgroup;
  2. (ii) whether the report of the Committee will be made public;
  3. (iii) what procedures are to be followed in consulting professional organisations when the report is published; and
  4. (iv) whether the Committee is taking into account the results of the consultative process which is still going on with respect to the documents A Better Start in Working Life and Providing Educational Opportunities for 16–18 Year Olds.

The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION and SCIENCE (Baroness YOUNG)

The members of the group under the chairmanship of Mr. Neil Macfarlane are listed below. The supporting group comprises officers of local education authorities in England and Wales, Department of Education and Science, Department of Employment, Her Majesty's Treasury, Welsh Office, and the Manpower Services Commission. It is too early to say in what form conclusions reached by the group may be made public or what consultations may then be undertaken. The group had its first meeting on 1st November, and decisions on the promulgation of conclusions will necessarily lie with those to whom the group is to report. The group's work is expected to benefit from and to complement the results of the consultations on A Better Start in Working Life and Providing Educational Opportunities for 16–18 Year Olds. Both will contribute to the Government's overall review of the relationship between school, further education and training.

Membership of the group is as follows:

Chairman:

Mr. Neil Macfarlane, M.P., Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Education and Science.

Members:

A.C.C.

  • Mr. P. Boulter, Chief Education Officer, Cumbria
  • Mr. H. J. Carter, Member, Staffordshire County Council
  • Mr. J. A. Lawton, Chairman, Kent County Council
  • Mr. P. D. Merridale, Chairman, Hampshire Education Committee
  • Mr. J. G. Owen, Chief Education Officer, Devon

A.M.A.:

  • Mrs. A. Rumbold, Deputy Leader, Kingston-upon-Thames Council
  • Mr. P. Horton, Chairman, Sheffield Education Committee
  • Mr. P. A. Newsam, Education Officer, ILEA
  • Mr. J. D. Pearman, Chairman, Wakefield Education Committee
  • Mr. N. Scrimshaw, Chairman, Birmingham Education Committee
  • Mr. J. J. A. Harries, Member, Dyfed Council

D.E.S.:

  • Mr. A. Thompson
  • S.C.I. Miss S. J. Browne
  • C. I. Mr. E. J. Sidebottom
  • Mr. R. H. Bird
  • Mr. J. H. Thompson

W.O.E.D.:

Mr. J. C. Lewis