Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science who will represent his Department at the European Community Council of Ministers meeting on 31 May, education and 18 May, culture; and what the agenda will be for both meetings.
Mr. JacksonMy right hon. Friend represents the United Kingdom at the meetings of European Community Ministers of Education. It is too early to predict the final agenda for the meeting on 31 May. Early indications are that it may include discussions on education co-operation, European schools, equality of educational opportunity in initial and in-service training of teachers, education for enterprise and distance education. The Council will also receive from the Commission a number of progress reports on education programmes.
Responsibility for cultural matters rests with my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts, who expects to be present at the 18 May meeting of European Community Ministers of Culture. Present indications are that the following items may be among those discussed: education and training in the cultural sector, free movement of cultural goods in the single European market, the MEDIA programme, library co-operation in the field of data banks, and the European City of Culture programme.