HC Deb 11 July 1963 vol 680 c1387
3. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to increase and improve the teaching on the fundamentals of the British constitution.

Sir E. Boyle

Teaching on the principles of the British constitution is a normal part of the secondary school curriculum, and Her Majesty's inspectors of schools keep the need for such teaching in mind in the advice they offer to the schools.

Mr. Hamilton

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recognise the very great importance of this subject? Can he give an assurance to teachers of it that, despite recent very serious lapses by the Prime Minister, the doctrine of Ministerial responsibility is not yet dead?

Sir E. Boyle

I can assure the hon. Member that to the best of my knowledge virtually no teachers exploit these periods for party political purposes, as might otherwise be thought from the hon. Member's not very subtle supplementary question.