§ Mr. HaynesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what time was allowed for consultation on the Cox report on English; from whom he is seeking comments; and when he expects to announce decisions on the report.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe National Curriculum Council (NCC) is conducting statutory consultations on my right hon. Friends' proposals for English in the national curriculum for pupils aged 5 to 11. Those proposals are based on the recommendations in the first report of the national curriculum English working group, chaired by Professor Brian Cox. Consultations began on 15 November and the NCC has asked for replies by 27 January 1989. It has consulted formally those bodies which it is obliged to consult under section 20 of the Education Reform Act 1988 and a number of others of its choosing.