HC Deb 21 February 1996 vol 272 cc363-4
15. Mr. Butcher

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the aims of her campaign to improve the use of the English language. [14690]

Mr. Paice

The Better English campaign aims to promote the use of good written and spoken English and, in particular, to raise awareness of the importance of good English for people's employment and career prospects.

Mr. Butcher

Does my hon. Friend agree that, such is the ingrained strength of the cult of mediocrity in Labour-controlled local education authorities in our big cities, the sort of initiative he has spoken of may not have the desired effect where it is needed most? May I ask him to write to the BBC sports department to congratulate it on its successful campaign to abolish the adverb, as in, "The boy done great" and, "He did that quick", when no sentence is ever "finished proper"? May I also ask my hon. Friend to write to the BBC children's television department, whose presenters now seem to be completely incoherent, and ask whether they have grades A to C in GCSE English? If they have such grades, we must urgently re-examine the curriculum and the methods of marking examinations.

Mr. Paice

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made it absolutely clear that effective communication is the key to future employment, and that we must do away with communication by grunt. We recognise that no one is beyond redemption. The opportunities for people of all ages to continue their learning and to continue improving their use of English must be open to all—even to people employed by the BBC. I am sure that the Better English campaign, under the chairmanship of Trevor McDonald, might wish to speak to those who run the BBC.

Mr. Sheerman

Is the Minister aware of how difficult it is to teach good English in large classes, and that any teacher would tell him that, to be successful, one must be able to teach in small groups? Is not it very difficult for any teacher to teach English well in schools when children are frequently taken out of school for long periods and no action is taken against the parents?

Mr. Paice

It must be up to the head teacher and the school governors to initiate that action.

The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that Ofsted has said that there is no simple link between quality of education and class size. It has made it clear that the selection and application of teaching methods and the form of class organisation have a much greater impact on learning than class sizes. We must all understand that lesson. It is entirely up to schools to decide how to organise their teaching and for teachers to organise their classes in a way that ensures that children are able to pay attention and are not being distracted.

Mr. Gallie

Is my hon. Friend aware that, in an attempt to add a little colour to the English language, the Post Office recently published stamps bearing the words of Robert Burns? Is he further aware that there were spelling mistakes in those words? Does my hon. Friend agree that that suggests that there should be greater concentration on spelling in English schools?

Mr. Paice

Many of the United Kingdom's great poets and authors have contributed considerably to the development of the English language, and Robbie Burns has contributed no less than many others. I am not sure whether I wish to enter a debate about the spelling of his literature, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government believe that all national treasures, such as Robbie Burns' poems, must have a place in British education to guarantee young people's understanding of British culture in the future.