§ Mr. Ernie RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the forthcoming policy and financial review of the Scottish Consultative Council on the curriculum. [15305]
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§ Mr. DewarMy Department will conduct a review of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum during 1997–98 under the programme of 5-yearly non-departmental public body reviews. This review will examine the justification for the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum on policy grounds and the system of financial management control within the Council.
The first stage of the review will take the form of a "prior options" study. This will assess the extent to which the functions that the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum perform are necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies, and will examine thoroughly the scope for abolition, transferring part or all of the functions to another body, rationalisation, privatisation and continuation as an NDPB. The results of this prior options study will inform a detailed review of the Council's financial management and control systems.
The review will also examine the scope for co-ordination of the activities of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum with other bodies to ensure maximum value for money from the central government resources available for education in Scotland.
The prior options study will commence in December 1997. In order to help ensure that all options are considered fully, comments are invited from interested parties.
Comments should be sent by 5 December 1997 to:
- Mrs. S. Tait
- Head of the Curriculum Branch
- Teachers, Curriculum and Community Education Division
- The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department
- Area 2A/29
- Victoria Quay
- EDINBURGH
- EH6 6QQ