§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will negotiate mutual recognition of teaching qualifications with other Commonwealth countries. [22280]
§ Mr. TimmsWe have no plans to do so. Previous comparability arrangements for recognition of overseas teaching qualifications were withdrawn in 1989. These were replaced by mutual recognition arrangements with other countries in the European Economic Area coupled with an employment based training route which enables overseas-trained teachers from countries outside the European Economic Area to obtain qualified teacher status. These arrangements were augmented earlier this year to allow exceptional experienced overseas trained teachers to obtain qualified teacher status and an exemption from induction through a simultaneous assessment.