HC Deb 08 April 1986 vol 95 cc45-6W
32. Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what talks he has had in recent weeks with the teachers' unions about the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education examinations.

Mr. Chris Patten

My right hon. Friend has not held such discussions, but I have had meetings, in recent weeks, with the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association, the Secondary Heads Association and the National Association of Head Teachers.

33. Mr. Terry Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what talks he has had in recent weeks with local education authorities about the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education examinations.

Mr. Chris Patten

My right hon. Friend has had correspondence but not discussion with local education authorities in recent weeks on this matter.

34. Mr. Evennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement about preparations for the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education examinations.

38. Mr. Sims

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement about preparations for the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education examinations.

Mr. Chris Patten

I refer my hon. Friends to the answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby).

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has made to the letter from the general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association about the finances which he has devoted to the general certificate of secondary education development programme.

Mr. Chris Patten

The general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association wrote to me on 20 March following the announcement by my right hon. Friend on 13 March of the response that the Government are making to the concerns expressed by his association and others. In my response to the general secretary I have reminded him of the considerable support that the Government are giving to the preparations for the GCSE which will allow the orderly completion of the training programme for all teachers and will enable local education authorities to fund a real increase in their provision for books and equipment for the GCSE.