§ 16. Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to make examination on the works of Robert Burns compulsory for the Scottish leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossNone, Sir. Detailed arrangements for the conduct of the examination are a matter for the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board. In recent years there has always been in the higher grade English paper a question on Burns or a question which could be answered by reference to the candidate's knowledge of Burns's poetry.
§ Mr. DempseyIs my right hon. Friend aware that all that I am asking is that Robert Burns, the Scottish bard, should enjoy equal status with Shakespeare, the English bard? As the works of Burns are internationally famous, does not the Secretary of State think that at least one question should be compulsorily answered on these works by those taking the Scottish Certificate of Education?
§ Mr. RossShakespeare may need this extra encouragement, but Burns does not need it. If my hon. Friend recalls Burns's own strictures in "The Twa Dogs" in relation to schools and colleges— 1484
But human bodies are sic fools,For a' their colleges and schools.he will appreciate that we had better put our faith and reputation in the knowledge and the instinctive love that Scots people have for Burns, without relying upon colleges and teachers.
§ Mr. BrewisWill the Secretary of State make the study of "Holy Willie's Prayer" compulsory?
§ Mr. RossWith the slightest encouragement, I will start on it. There is another quotation which the hon. Gentleman might find much more apposite—certainly some of my hon. Friends will—from the "Address to the Unco Guid":
O ye wha are sae guid yoursel,Sae pious and sae holy,Ye've nought to do but mark and tellYour neibour's fauts and folly!The hon. Gentleman should note his own faults and follies.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The poet Burns was a concise poet.
§ Mr. Hector HughesDoes my right hon. Friend realise that appreciation of the works of Robert Burns marches pari passu with the spread of nationalism in Scotland? Will he take that into account in the education of children in schools?
§ Mr. Ian MacArthurWill the Secretary of State recognise that there are other great figures in Scottish literature, and will he take steps to try to improve the standard of literary education in Scotland so that the great literary heritage of our country is fully and comprehensively understood by our children?
§ Mr. RossThe hon. Gentleman is quite right. Some of them have suffered from being school subjects. The hon. Gentleman will be interested to know that the Central Committee on English, which was set up last year, is presently studying the best way to forward the study of Scottish literature comprehensively.