§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about the future of the arrangements for the recognition of independent further education establishments as efficient.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. and learned Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales have had to consider, against the background of the Government's plans for reducing public service manpower, whether it would be practicable for the two Departments to continue to operate the voluntary arrangements under which independent establishments of further education may apply to them to be "recognised as efficient". They have decided, after careful consideration, that these arrangements should be terminated by 1 April 1982. Our Departments are of course ready to discuss the implications of this with those interests affected. Should any representative organisation in the field of independent further education have it in mind to establish a self-regulatory system of recognition or accreditation, the Departments and Her Majesty's Inspectorate will be willing to offer such advice and assistance as is possible given the manpower constraints to which I have referred.