Schools Inspectorate (Hansard, 13 January 1992)

§ Mr. Morgan
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if, pursuant to his reply of 19 December,Official Report, columns 266–67, he will give the cost of the Adams report on the future of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools service in Wales; if he will detail the relevant previous career and consultancy experience of Ms. Adams in the field of education and the inspection thereof; and what was the competitive tendering procedure that led to her selection.

§ Sir Wyn Roberts
The cost of the report produced as part of my right hon. Friend's review of the role and organisation of HMI in Wales was £7,575. Mrs. Adams has had considerable experience as an administrative civil servant. As a former civil servant she is eligible to be employed without competition. She works for the Welsh Office from time to time on tasks appropriate to her experience when a permanent member of staff is not available.

§ Mr. Morgan
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 December, what policy considerations led to his decision to restrict the circulation of the contents of the Adams report on the future of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools service in Wales; and if he will now make arrangements for its early publication.

§ Sir Wyn Roberts
The consultant's report is one element in the much wider consideration my right hon. Friend is giving to the role and organisation of HMI in Wales, alongside other policy initiatives currently being pursued in the education field generally and in the area of inspections in particular. Given this, my right hon. Friend has concluded that it would not be appropriate to publish the report. The report is being taken fully into account in the review of HMI.

§ Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of Her Majesty's inspectors currently engaged to report on primary, secondary and further education in Wales; and what changes he proposes in these numbers.

§ Sir Wyn Roberts
The number of HMI currently engaged in Wales is 58. Until my right hon. Friend has 505W completed his consideration of the future role and structure of HMI in Wales, I am not in a position to say whether there will be any change in numbers. We hope to announce our conclusions shortly.