§ Sir William van Straubenzeeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet received a report from the working group considering possible changes in the law relating to further education; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I agreed last autumn to set up, jointly with the local authority associations, a working group to review the law as it relates to further364W education, to consider the need for changes and to suggest what changes might be made. The group, comprising officers from both our Departments and from the local authorities under the chairmanship of an Under-Secretary in my Department, have now completed their report and submitted it to Ministers and to the local authority associations. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
In considering the suggestions in the report and any consequential issues to which it may give rise, my right hon. Friend and I will find it helpful to have the comments of all those concerned, if possible by 30 October. The Government will in due course bring forward its own proposals.