asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will report on the progress with the first general certificate of secondary education examinations; what consultation he is having on this matter; and what action he is taking to respond to representations made.

Last September some 600,000 pupils started courses which will lead to the first GCSE examinations in summer 1988. Direct Government funding has provided:

(i) for books and equipment, £20 million in 1986–87 and £10 million in 1987–88; and

(ii) for in-service teacher training, £9·5 million in 1986–87 and £15 million in 1987–88.

The Government's plans for the financial year 1987–88 provide for specific expenditure on GCSE non-teaching costs of £100 million.Discussions are being held with GCSE examining groups, LEAs and teachers' associations, and the information gained will help to determine future resource needs and policy developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those regions and those subjects in which assessment structures for general certificate of secondary education examinations were not in operation by the end of 1986.

None. All GCSE syllabuses give details of the associated schemes of assessment and examination structure, and mode I syllabuses in all subjects were distributed to schools before the end of 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will request Her Majesty's Inspectors to carry out an immediate review of the operation of the general certificate of secondary education courses in secondary schools.

HMI has four main strategies for monitoring the implementation of the GCSE:

(i) through the normal programme of school visits;

(ii) through specialist subject visits;

(iii) through termly discussions with LEA officers, inspectors and advisers; and

(iv) through the annual analysis of LEAs' expenditure policies

In addition HMI is evaluating GCSE in-service teacher training.