HC Deb 05 June 1990 vol 173 cc546-7W
Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of links between schools and industry.

Mr. Alan Howarth

Good progress is being made in encouraging links between schools and local industry and commerce. A recent DES survey of 500 secondary and 500 primary schools, the findings of which will shortly be published in a DES statistical bulletin, found that around 90 per cent. of secondary and over 50 per cent. of primary schools had links with local businesses. The DES is involved with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Training Agency, employers, and national school-business link organisations in a range of initiatives designed to assist in the establishment of effective links between schools and industry.