HC Deb 26 February 1998 vol 307 cc488-9
11. Dr. Tony Wright

What plans he has to include citizenship education in the national curriculum. [29889]

Mr. Blunkett

I have appointed an advisory group on citizenship and democracy under the chairmanship of Professor Bernard Crick—with you, Madam Speaker, as its excellent patron—to ensure that we can develop, as part of the review of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, both citizenship and democracy education for the future.

Dr. Wright

We have been talking about the importance of educating young people in citizenship for the past 30 years or more; the problem is that we have only ever been talking about it. Will my right hon. Friend respond to the report of the group, when it comes—I congratulate him on setting it up—in terms of two principles; first, that a democracy has an obligation to educate young people in citizenship; secondly, we shall make progress only if it now becomes a requirement, and not merely a recommendation?

Mr. Blunkett

I am keen that we do not repeat the situation that appertained when the previous Labour Government lost office, when Baroness Williams was in my post. She was still talking about this subject when the Government were defeated. We now need action to ensure that the curriculum reflects the critical importance of citizenship and democracy to equip our young people for the world of tomorrow so that they understand the structures of our society and democratic institutions, and their part in holding the Government to account.

Mr. Brady

Will the Secretary of State ensure that citizenship education also makes an important allowance for educating children on the importance of keeping promises, such as that highlighted in The Times this morning? The report states that the Prime Minister wrote to a Doctor Tillson, assuring her that her children would continue to receive funding under the assisted places scheme until their education at their school was complete. That promise has now been broken. Is that not a bad example for the Government to set?

Mr. Blunkett

I shall ensure not only that people understand the importance of keeping promises, but that they can read so that they may get the promises right. The promise we made we shall fulfil. I remind the hon. Gentleman that the previous Government's scheme to extend assisted places to primary education had not yet been implemented at the point to which he refers.

Fiona Mactaggart

Does not Britain provide less social and civic education than other countries with a national curriculum? In my right hon. Friend's review of the national curriculum, will he consider ways to include the provision of social and civic education?

Mr. Blunkett

The answer is yes, and the Minister for School Standards will introduce proposals, in consultation with the Department of Health, so that we can ensure that personal and social education is supported by health education. In that way, we shall have a clear picture of our support and help for young people in the future.