Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2018 to Question 177683 on Engineering and Physics: Vocational Guidance, for what reason his Department is not able on undertake a comparative assessment of an area of responsibility that is devolved in Wales and Scotland; and what steps the Government has taken to ensure that best practice is shared between the nations of the UK.

I refer the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central to the answer I gave on 15 October 2018 to Question 177683. The Department has not conducted the specific comparison requested, but in developing policy on curriculum and qualifications, the Department routinely considers evidence about what works best in other educational jurisdictions, including the highest performing nations in the world.

The Government is committed to sharing best practice and enhancing collaborative working on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) between the nations of the UK and has representation from devolved administrations on the Cross-Government STEM Board.