§ 6. Mr. Peter M. Jacksonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to implement the recommendations of the Plowden Committee on Primary Education that parents should be told of their right to have their children excused from the religious act of worship and from religious instruction.
§ Mr. Edward ShortI have no evidence that parents generally are not aware of their rights, and I do not think that the Council's recommendation is a suitable matter for legislation at present. No doubt this reply will help bring it to the attention of parents.
§ Mr. JacksonIs my right hon. Friend aware, however, of the precise terms of paragraph 567 of the Plowden Report, which clearly points out the disabilities which humanist parents suffer compared with non-humanist parents? Will he give an assurance to look again at this paragraph of the Report?
§ Mr. ShortI think that any humanist parent would be well aware of his rights, and I do not believe that there is any problem here. We should also guard against considering everything written in these monumental reports, of which there have been a large number since the war, as being holy writ.