HL Deb 08 March 1982 vol 428 cc106-8WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether all United Kingdom academic and technical qualifications are recognised in the Republic of Ireland and vice-versa, and if not, why not; and whether they will list those qualifications that are not mutually recognised.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Elton)

In the United Kingdom it is for Government and the autonomous educational institutions, professional and other bodies concerned to decide on the acceptability of foreign qualifications for their purposes. Similar principles apply to the recognition of technical qualifications. Though the question of recognition of British qualifications in the Republic of Ireland is a matter for the authorities concerned, in the case of academic qualifications both countries are signatories of the Council of Europe's 1953 Convention on the Equivalence of Diplomas Leading to Admission to Universities (Cmnd 9168) and of the 1959 Convention of the Academic Recognition of University Qualifications (Cmnd 1591). No record of qualifications so recognised is maintained, but in 1979 the Commission of the European Community published a study which suggests that the principles of these two conventions are generally followed by the responsible bodies in both countries.

House adjourned at twenty-nine minutes before ten o'clock.