§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment on the subject of ensuring the effective provision of work experience in schools, with particular reference to the issues of health and safety; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment announced on 24 May,Official Report, column 198, the Government are asking training and enterprise councils and their partners to ensure that all pupils in their last year of compulsory education can have at least one week's work experience and will make available an additional £23 million over three years to 1997–98 to support this. Guidance on work experience placements, including health and safety aspects, is contained in the Department for Education booklets "Education at Work".