To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the future of A-levels; and what assessment he has made of the implications of the A-level results of 2002. [116069]

We remain committed to the principles underlying the reformed A-levels, which are valuable awards. Following the reports by Mike Tomlinson on A-levels last year, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the awarding bodies have put in place the measures he recommended to ensure consistent grading standards. The Governments policy document, 14–19: organisation and excellence, announced in January that a group led by Mike Tomlinson will advise next year on the future direction of qualifications for 14 to 19-year-olds.