I make no apologies for beginning my Address by looking back briefly over the past few years at what has been happening in the relationship between the DES and the so‐called Responsible Bodies. Though the policies for direct funding of extra‐mural provision in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are for the Secretaries of State for those countries, some of our objectives for England will I am sure apply not only over the borders but also to those of you not in receipt of RB funding.