Learning and Skills Council (Wales)

HC Deb 06 April 2000 vol 347 cc539-40W

Mr. Edwards

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to establish a Learning and Skills Council for Wales with similar powers to the Learning and Skills Council for England; and if he will make a statement. [115590]

Mr.Hanson

I have been asked to reply.

The Learning and Skills Bill proposes the establishment of the Council for Education and Training for Wales (CETW). This new body will have broadly the same functions in respect of Wales as the Learning and Skills Council for England, but with some variation to suit local circumstances in Wales. The provisions in the Bill for the CETW are based on the Education and Training Action Plan for Wales, published in March 1999 following public consultation, which was endorsed by the National Assembly for Wales in its plenary debate on 1 February 2000.