Written question asked by John Hayes (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 January 2006. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 9 January 2006 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Adult Learning Inspectorate

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she received from business groups on the decision to merge the adult learning inspectorate with Ofsted.

Answer: A number of business organisations, including the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors and the British Chambers of Commerce, responded to the consultation ““A Single Inspectorate for Children and Learners””. As part of the consultation Tri-Energy Consulting facilitated for the Department [five] focus group discussions on the consultation questions relating to the adult learning inspectorate. They concluded that"””ultimately, respondents were not attached to ALI per se, but to what they felt ALI offered. If this could be offered in a different way-improved upon, even-they would generally be happy.””"

Secondary information