§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the report of the Howie committee on curriculum and examinations in upper secondary education in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe issues raised in the report of the Howie committee are important and complex. They affect the education and employment opportunities of all young people in Scotland and the operation of a significant part of the Scottish education system. The committee's proposals would make radical changes to arrangements which have been in place in some form for over 100 years. There was a healthy response to consultation on the report and over 300 responses were received. We have made good progress in evaluating the proposals in the light of that response and will announce decisions later this year.