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Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the outcomes of the Council of EC Education Ministers held on 21 November. [6535] Mr. Paice: On 21 November, the Council of EC Education Ministers, at which my noble Friend the Minister of State for Education and Employment represented the UK, adopted a Council decision authorising the EC Education Committee to hold informal meetings with Council of Europe representatives; a Council decision amending decision 93/246/EEC of 29 April 1993 adopting the second phase of the trans-European co-operation scheme for higher education--TEMPUS II; a Council resolution on new political priorities for the information society; and a Council decision on the adoption of a multi-annual programme to promote linguistic diversity in the information society. The Council adopted conclusions on school effectiveness and held a public debate on this topic. The Council also adopted Conclusions on lifelong learning and on local community development through education. Council and Education Ministers meeting within Council adopted a declaration on educational measures to protect children and counter paedophilia. Council received reports from the European Commission on four thematic conferences associated with the Commission White paper, "Teaching and Learning: Towards the Learning Society"; the Commission's Green Paper on obstacles to mobility, and its action plan on learning in the information society. The Commission gave oral presentations to Council on the budgetary needs of the SOCRATES programmes; a proposed Council recommendation on the transferability of student grants; a proposed Council recommendation on the quality of higher education; and quality assessment of first and second level education systems. Education Ministers also took part in a meeting with Education Ministers of the countries of central and eastern Europe. A copy of the official minutes of the Council will be placed in the Library when they become available.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

6535; 286 c173-4W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Children ICT Languages International cooperation Higher education EU action Paedophilia Safety Socrates programme EU educational policy EC Education Council