§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to provide a scheme of learning credits for those aged 16 years; and if she will make a statement. [2819]
§ Mr. PaiceThe second competitiveness White Paper: "Forging Ahead", published in May, noted that the Government remain attracted in principle to the idea of learning credits for all 16 to 19-year-olds, while recognising that it would have significant practical implications. We have invited comments on the Coopers and Lybrand study of learning credits which was also published in May. We are now considering how best to develop the idea further in the context of the Department's wider programme, set out in the White Paper, to improve education and training for 16 to 19-year-olds.