§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the implications of recent changes to the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1995 for vocational courses involving work experience and a work placement; and if he will make a statement. [5110]
§ Dr. HowellsThe changes made to the provisions governing sandwich courses in the Regulations will not take effect until 1 September 1997. They were made in order to clarify the provisions in the current Regulations, which were unsatisfactory and unclear. I am aware that certain courses which contain a period of full-time study at an institution that aggregates to less than 19 weeks per 449W academic year may be adversely affected by the changes. I am currently considering the effect of the changes on these courses.