Written question asked by Lord Boswell of Aynho (Conservative) on Tuesday, 2 November 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 November 1999. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Monday, 8 November 1999 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on the development of educational and youth international exchanges. - Includes ref to Green Paper, "Teachers: Meeting the Challenge of Change".

Answer: Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the development of educational and youth international exchanges. [97484] Mr. Wicks: The UK fully participates in European Union education programmes including SOCRATES and LEONARDO which enable exchange opportunities for teachers, lecturers, pupils, students and young people in vocational training. Both programmes have recently been renegotiated and expanded. The European Commission has recently published proposals for a new youth programme to develop the exchange programmes currently funded under Youth for Europe and the European Voluntary Service for Young People. The Government fund the Central Bureau for International Education and Training and the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers to organise educational exchanges. Both organisations are modernising their programmes in the light of the Green Paper, "Teachers: Meeting the Challenge of Change", which proposed a major new programme of international development opportunities for teachers. Pilots of the new programme are currently operating. We intend to announce plans for the new programmes next year.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 97484; 337 c436W
Session: 1998-99
Subjects: International cooperation EU action Vocational education Educational exchanges Leonardo da Vinci programme Socrates programme EU educational policy