§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to establish assessment centres for business and industrial training in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from J. Crozier to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 18 February 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans we have to establish assessment centres for business and industrial training in Northern Ireland.The establishment of Assessment Centres is a matter for employers to work out with Awarding Bodies (which are responsible for approving arrangements for the assessment of national vocational qualifications (NVQs).Some employer bodies have well advanced plans for the development of NVQs in their sectors including the provision of Assessment Centres. The Training and Employment Agency (Northern Ireland) (T&EA) takes a close interest in such developments, but is not involved in the running of the Centres.