§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish his report on the discharge of his duties for further education in Scotland as required under section 1 of the Further and Higher Education Scotland (Act) 1972; and if he will make a statement. [27542]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonMy right hon. Friend's report on further education in Scotland in 1995 has been published today and has been laid before both Houses of Parliament. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
The report, entitled "Further Education in Scotland 1995: Report by the Secretary of State for Scotland" shows that further education colleges have continued to raise standards and that progress has been made in the use of performance indicators as part of their quality assurance arrangements. They continue to make an impressive contribution to the training needs of individuals and of employers and are to be congratulated on the 6 per cent. increase in student activity and 4 per cent. efficiency gains which they achieved in the 1994–95 academic year.