Statement from Sir William Stubbs

27 September 2002

Sir William Stubbs said this morning: "I was very pleased to hear that Mike Tomlinson is content that the independence of his inquiry has not been compromised and that he will be continuing with this important work.

"My concern all along has been to reassure young people that they can have confidence in the examinations on which their futures depend. That is why I called for evidence to the inquiry to be heard in public. That is why I wanted to bring out into the open my very real concern for the integrity of this inquiry and that one of the parties involved was talking to other witnesses at a critical stage.

"Both the Secretary of State and myself agree that a swift resolution of the current situation is in the best interests of the young people affected. I am confident that tomorrow the Tomlinson report will bring that much needed resolution."