HC Deb 17 February 1998 vol 306 cc613-4W
Mr. Dorrell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what policy reviews are currently underway within his Department. [29530]

Mr. Blunkett

My Department continuously reviews its policies. The following reviews are currently being undertakenDepartmental Spending Review. As part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review my department is currently undertaking a review of all its programmes and its running costs expenditure. I will be reporting its conclusions to the Ministerial Committee on Public Expenditure in the late Spring. Review of the threshold exempting employers with fewer than 20 employees from the Employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. A review of the effects of the threshold exempting small employers from the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act. The review includes a consultation exercise ending on 2 March. Launch date was 3 December 1997. The intended date of report will be in late Spring 1998. Review of Qualifications Appeals Systems. Announced on 16 December 1997. Preliminary conclusions are expected in May 1998.