§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many, and what proportion of, vacancies advertised by his Department, and by each of his Department's agencies, in the last three years have listed the attainment of national vocational qualifications as an acceptable entry requirement; and, of those, how 483W many have required (i) level 1 NVQs, (ii) level 2 NVQs, (iii) level 3 NVQs and (iv) other level NVQs. [22977]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordMy Department, its agencies and DOE personnel staff in Government offices are happy to accept national vocational qualifications at the appropriate level as alternatives to traditional educational qualifications. The Buying Agency has run one advertising scheme in the last three years with NVQs, level 1 or 2 as a requirement—4 per cent. of vacancies. No other vacancies advertised in the last three years have specifically referred to the acceptance of NVQs.