HC Deb 03 November 1998 vol 318 cc528-9W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to allow OFSTED to accredit initial teaching training courses either in whole or in part. [56213]

Mr. Charles Clarke

There are no plans to change the current statutory requirements which give the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) alone the power to accredit or de-accredit providers of initial teacher training. OFSTED will continue to be responsible for inspection of all initial training and TTA will continue to use information from inspections in making decisions about continued accreditation.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many post-graduate certificate in education courses in individual institutions of higher education failed to recruit sufficient numbers and therefore did not proceed in each of the last six years. [56199]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Information on individual post-graduate certificate in education courses which did not proceed because of lack of recruits is not held centrally.