§ Mr. Barry PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications programme and its implementation.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 19 October 1992]: The remit of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications does not extend to Scotland. The equivalent body, which is responsible for the accreditation and award of vocational qualifications in Scotland, is the Scottish Vocational Education Council.
The Scottish programme is designed to make available vocational qualifications which are broadly compatible with those being developed by the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. Scottish vocational qualifications—SVQs—embrace industry-determined standards to meet the needs of specific occupations. The target set by the Government was to have these qualifications in place for 80 per cent. of the Scottish work force by December 1992. The Scottish Vocational Education Council is well on course towards meeting this target, 288 individual SVQs having been accredited to date.