To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of implementing the national vocational qualifications framework.

The council's task of rationalising and reforming our vocational qualification system is well under way. Over 165 qualifications have now been accredited within the first four levels of the new national vocational qualifications framework.In discussion with relevant professional bodies, the council has also begun to prepare the ground for extending its work to higher level qualifications.Details of the council's work are contained in its annual report, a copy of which is in the Library.