Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to reduce the numbers of forms required to be completed during(a) external and (b) internal inspections of post-16 establishments; and if he will make a statement. [152639]
§ Mr. WicksOn external inspections, all the inspectorates require providers to complete one or two forms to enable the planning of inspections. In the future in line with guidance given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State such information will be routed to the inspectorates through the Learning and Skills Council. During the inspection, inspectors draw from standard documentation prepared and made available by providers. The Secretary of State has required the new Post-16 inspectorates to keep the burden of inspection to a minimum consistent with maintaining the rigour and quality of inspection. As to internal inspections, how these are conducted are matters for the providers themselves.