§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement outlining the areas of his responsibility in which the EC will have competence following the implementation of agreements at Maastricht.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthFollowing the agreement reached at Maastricht last week, the European Community will have a role in contributing to the development of quality education by encouraging co-operation between member states and if necessary by supporting and supplementing their action.
Action by the Community is to be aimed at: developing the European dimension in education; the teaching and dissemination of languages; promoting co-operation between education establishments; developing exchanges of information and experience; encouraging the development of youth exchanges; and encouraging the development of distance education.
The Community is required by the agreement fully to respect the responsibility of the member states for the content of teaching and the organisation of educational systems, and their cultural and linguistic diversity.
114WThe Community's existing competence in relation to vocational training is clarified. Again the Community is required to respect the responsibility of member states for the content and organisation of vocational training.
The measures available to the Community in relation to education and vocational training expressly exclude any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the member states.
The European Community will gain no new competence in those areas of scientific research under DES responsibility. The Community's existing competence allows it to undertake certain actions which will strengthen the scientific and technological basis of European industry and encourage it to become more competitive at international level.