§ 14. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Education to what extent attention is drawn in schools to the danger of 1378 smoking and the personal and social liabilities arising from the early consumption of alcoholic drinks.
§ Sir E. BoyleI do not prescribe what is to be taught in schools; but my Department's pamphlet on "Health Education" is widely used in teacher training colleges and schools, and chapter 13 deals with the use and abuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the Minister aware that, while much is being done, very rightly, to dissuade school children from smoking, nevertheless the whole emphasis recently seems to have been on the danger of smoking, with the result that many children are growing up assuming that smoking is far more perilous than drink, whereas the social damage of excessive drinking is far greater?
§ Sir E. BoyleI do not want in any way to weaken the force of public feeling about smoking in view of the evidence recently published. However, if the hon. Member reads the pamphlet "Health Education", he will see that a considerable amount of space is devoted to alcohol.
§ Mr. WoodburnWill the Minister look with favour on the possibility of propaganda or at least education by outstanding athletes, because this positive way of keeping healthy is, perhaps, much more successful than the negative way of simply saying. "Don't". Children would respond to appeals from athletes to keep their bodies healthy.