§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what measures are being taken to ensure that the reconstituted National Council for Vocational Qualifications has the expertise and competence to validate bilingual (Welsh and English) and Welsh language medium vocational qualifications;
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that employers from Wales who need to employ persons with bilingual skills in the Welsh and English languages will be represented on the current nine working groups established by the reconstituted National Council for Vocational Qualifications in order to present recommendations in various vocational areas.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe National Council for Vocational Qualifications was set up to establish a vocational qualification framework with currency in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but is not itself a validating or awarding body. The council operates by accrediting qualifications awarded by other bodies and assigning them to the vocational qualification framework. Where a possible accreditation involves competence in the Welsh language, the council will only proceed if it is satisfied that such competence has been taken into account in the development and delivery arrangements for the award. The council will draw on any necessary expertise to assist in its consideration of qualifications involving Welsh language skills.