§ Mr. Robert BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what arrangements he has made for the introduction of a preliminary scheme of school-centred initial teacher training this year.
§ Mr. ForthIn March this year my right hon. Friend invited proposals from consortia of schools to design, organise and make provision for courses of initial teacher training for up to 250 graduates. The courses will lead to qualified teacher status for successful students. On 31 May he announced those consortia which have been approved to offer courses starting in September. A further announcement on courses starting in January 1994 will be made shortly. Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the higher and further education vote—class X, vote 2. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £500,000 will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.