§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the advice on teacher training recruitment targets received by his Department from the Teacher Training Agency for 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [5700]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 27 June 1997]: The targets are the responsibility of the Department. The TTA has not in the past been invited to submit advice to the Department on the whole range of issues involved, but on occasion we have discussed particular aspects—such as the necessary assumptions on course length and wastage—with Agency staff. The Select Committee on Education and Employment, in its sixth report, recommended that TTA be given a greater role in advising the Department on the staffing model and training targets and that its advice about them should he made public. The Government's response will be published shortly.