"The council does feel that a new quality assessment tool would help to continue the drive to improve the quality of provision and therefore the RDB scheme will cease to be used at the end of this financial year, " a council spokesperson said.

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But to recoup the cost of developing the test, the National Assessment Agency had said that it would continue "in its current form" until 2013.

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But in the weeks and months ahead, we will continue a sustained and intensive effort of analysis and assessment so we leave no stone unturned in seeking better ways to protect the American people.

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