§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take immediate action to ensure that relevant qualifications such as may be provided by the City and Guilds institutions or which are approved by industry training boards are recognised as satisfactory national vocational qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in agreeing such recognition.
Mr. JacksonNational vocational qualifications are based on occupational standards identified by representative employer-led bodies some of which are industry training boards. In conjunction with awarding bodies such as the City and Guilds of London institute they can submit proposals to the National Council for Vocational Qualifications, for accreditation as NVQs provided that they meet the NVQ criteria.
Many NVQs proposed by CGLI and supported by the appropriate lead body have already gained accreditation. I am assured that there is no undue delay by NCVQ in accrediting qualifications which meet the NVQ criteria.