§ 5. Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham)What representations he has made to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in relation to the teaching of music in schools. [57244]
§ The Minister for Arts (Mr. Alan Howarth)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has policy responsibility for the teaching of music in schools, but my Department has a vital interest in ensuring that the value of the arts is recognised in the curriculum and other education policies. My right hon. Friend and I work closely with education Ministers on that and other subjects of mutual interest to our Departments.
§ Dr. CableWill the Minister acknowledge that there is much concern among musicians and educators about the Government's decision to axe music from the early years school curriculum, despite the availability of a small fund that will help schools that are already well organised in that field? Will he give an assurance that he will continue to press the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to ensure that all children can benefit from a well rounded curriculum that includes the arts and music?
§ Mr. HowarthThe hon. Gentleman is entirely wrong—no such decision has been made. I acknowledge that there is confusion about the matter—clearly the 6 hon. Gentleman, too, is confused. I assure him that there has been no downgrading of music or the arts in the national curriculum. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment is on record as emphasising that
the development of a child's creativity and imagination is an essential part of a balanced education.There remains a statutory obligation to offer a broad and balanced education and to include music as a foundation subject.
§ Mr. Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington)How much talent is lost simply because some parents cannot afford to pay for classes for their children to learn the violin, the piano, the 'cello or a wind instrument? Surely that is a waste that the country can ill afford.
§ Mr. HowarthI agree with my hon. Friend. There has been a worrying decline—charted, for example, by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music—in the proportion of children in some groups playing musical instruments and taking music lessons in school.
There is tremendous talent in our country. Anyone who had the opportunity, as I did last week, to attend the schools prom at the Albert hall will have no doubt that there is an extraordinary wealth of talent among our young people.
I believe that the new youth music trust that my right hon. Friend has established will make an important difference by enhancing support for musical activity and young people's musical development; as will the proposals of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment—which were included in "Fair Funding"—to safeguard local authority provision for music services.