National Council for Vocational Qualifications

HC Deb 17 May 1990 vol 172 cc538-9W

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the work of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications.

Mr. Eggar

The Government established the council to spearhead the drive to create a coherent and comprehensive system of vocational qualifications. Such a system is a key component of the training framework Britain needs to meet the employment demands of the 1990s.

In the three years the council has been operating it has many achievements to its credit. Work is now under way in many organisations, including over 150 groups of employers, to develop new vocational qualifications. It is now time to take stock of progress and to consider how relationships between all the various partners are developing.

With the agreement of the Secretaries of State for Education and Science, for Wales and for Northern Ireland, the Department of Employment will undertake a review of the council's progress and make a full report of its findings.