HC Deb 28 February 1994 vol 238 cc535-6W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which occupations are not covered by national vocational qualifications; and if he will make a statement.

Miss Widdecombe

The Government have set the National Council for Vocational Qualifications the following targetTo secure the accreditation of NVQs of high quality and widespread acceptability, covering 90 per cent. of the employed population, by the end of 1995.

Currently 83 per cent. of the employed population, including all major occupational areas, are covered by national vocational qualifications at levels 1 to 4.

The Employment Department and NCVQ are working closely together to develop NVQs in particular for higher levels and for occupations where the costs of developing NVQs can be justified by the numbers of people likely to demand them.

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of young people who took national vocational qualifications level 2 passed in 1993; and if he will make a statement.

Miss Widdecombe

The information requested is not available in the form requested. However, according to the National Council for Vocational Qualifications, just under 200,000 national vocational qualifications in total were awarded from October 1992 to September 1993. The total has not been broken down by age and level. Information on awards by age and level should be available shortly.