§ Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what initiatives Her Majesty's Government have taken since 1979 to improve relations between industry and education.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe development of strong, effective and wide-ranging links between industry and commerce and all parts of the education system is a major aim of Government policy. The many specific measures introduced to encourage this partnership are set out in
The White Paper "Better Schools" (Cmnd. 9496) which emphasised the importance of preparing all young people for work and the importance in this respect of, inter alia, the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative and the Lower Attaining Pupils Programme.The White Paper "Training for Jobs" (Cmnd. 9135) which spelled out initiatives in the area of vocational education, including the formation of the Business and Technician Education Council, the establishment of the College Employers Links Project, and arrangements for MSC to increase its purchases from colleges of further education.The White Paper "Education and Training for Young People" (Cmnd. 9482) which spelled out developments in the area of new technologies, particularly the Micros in Schools Scheme and the British School Technology Scheme, and announced the establishment of a Review of Vocational Qualifications.The Green Paper "The Development of Higher Education into the 1990s" which emphasised the importance of Higher Education and industry and commerce working more closely together; and which pointed to Government measures strengthening this partnership, such as the Professional Industrial and Commercial Updating (PICKUP) Programme, and the provision, at the urging of industry, of 5,000 additional student places in Higher Education in electronic engineering, computer science and other relevant subjects through the Engineering and Technology Programme.