HC Deb 06 March 1968 vol 760 cc412-3
3. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in addition to measures to strengthen the forms of law and order, he will appoint a committee to investigate the possibility of educational and guided recreational activities being developed to prevent the growth of criminal activities through lack of moral teaching and inability intelligently to use leisure.

Mr. Buchan

I agree with my right hon. Friend that positive measures of the kind he has in mind are needed, and the Standing Consultative Council on Youth and Community Service and the Sports Council for Scotland have already been considering how young people might be helped to make better use of their leisure and how sports facilities might be further developed. My right hon. Friend has also arranged with Glasgow Corporation for its officials and mine to examine the particular problem of improving social and recreational facilities in the new housing areas of the city.

Mr. Woodburn

Is my hon. Friend aware that one of the consequences of the decline of church influence in Scotland is that there is an almost complete absence of moral teaching for the young? Will he see what opportunities can be taken to have moral teaching reinstated? I suggest that he enlists the co-operation of the church authorities which arrange broadcasting. A great deal of time is available on the air and the broadcasts reach a large number of children and adults. A good deal of that time is taken on doctrine and not so much on behaviour. It would be a great advantage if citizenship could be introduced into those programmes.

Mr. Speaker

Order. We have 84 Scottish Questions on the Order Paper.

Mr. Buchan

I have very much in mind the whole question of social and moral education. My hon. Friend is also very concerned with this as regards the schools. The consultative committee on the curriculum has been considering this. The broadcasting points which my right hon. Friend mentioned will also be taken into account.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Will the present series of grants for local youth services, which his been of great help to the work of local youth services in Scotland, be continued?

Mr. Buchan

Yes, Sir. Government grants o the youth organisations increased greatly in recent years, as did local authority grants. We shall do our best to ensure that this progress is continued.