§ 2.41 p.m.
§ BARONESS MASHAM OF ILTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a policy on sex education in schools and whether they have given any directives or guidance to local education authorities on this subject.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE (LORD BELSTEAD)My Lords, responsibility for secular instruction in schools rests with local education authorities, the governing bodies of schools, and head teachers. While it is impossible to satisfy all sections of opinion, they have shown great responsibility in this matter. General advice on an approach to the subject is contained in the Chapter entitled "School and the Future Parent" in a Handbook of Health Education issued by the Department of Education and Science.
§ BARONESS MASHAM OF ILTONMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for his reply, may I ask him whether he thinks that this education should be combined with moral and spiritual teaching, or should be just straightforward biological sex? Further does he think that parents should have the right to know what their children are being taught in this subject, and should have the option of withdrawing their children from the showing of a film if they so wish?
§ LORD BELSTEADMy Lords, the noble Baroness may agree that teaching in this field involves a good deal more than education about sex. As it is a facet of human relations, it surely involves biological teaching, which I think experience has taught is generally best done in the primary school; moral, social and religious aspects of human relationships, which it is best to try to impart as children get older; and then there are always the questions to be dealt with which come up at all times and at any time. In answer to the noble Baroness's second and third questions it is my right honourable friend's view, and, I know, the view of the local education authorities, that parents certainly should have a right to know what is being taught to children in schools. Also, it is my right honourable friend's view, and, so far as I know, it is the practice of local education authorities, that parents should be consulted before films are shown to their children.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, as we have been told over the years that a greater degree of sex education would give our children a greater sense of responsibility, can the noble Lord explain why the illegitimate birth rate is going up, and the incidence of V.D. among our young people is higher than we have ever known it?
§ LORD BELSTEADYes, my Lords. I, too, have the statistics for 1969–70 from the Department of Health and Social Security, and I am not aware that any conclusions have been drawn from them by that Department.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that he omitted one very important point, which is the simple phrase "self-control". There was not a single reference to that in all of the long answer that he gave.
§ LORD BELSTEADMy Lords, I was not asked about self-control. I therefore had to contain myself.
§ THE EARL OF LAUDERDALEMy Lords, since I cannot contain myself where verbiage is concerned, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that one cannot just laugh off this very serious matter, and make no reference to self-control and morals? Is the noble Lord aware that the Government's job is also to support civilisation, and therefore the family; and will he give this matter much deeper and more serious consideration than he gave it in his answer?
§ LORD BELSTEADMy Lords, I take to heart what the noble Earl said in his second question. To prepare for the Question this afternoon, I made inquiries in the Department of Education and Science as to whether the Handbook of Health Education which the Department of Education and Science publishes, and to which I referred when I was answering the original Question of the noble Baroness, is in your Lordships' Library. My advice is that it is in the Library, and I would ask the noble Earl to look at it. I think he may find that the views expressed, which are supposed to be imparted to those who are doing the teaching, run very much along the same lines as the noble Earl's views.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, may I ask what is wrong with teaching biology as biology?
§ LORD BELSTEADMy Lords, I think I covered that point in my first Answer to the noble Baroness.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us how we have suffered from learning only biology?
§ LORD BELSTEADMy Lords, I am delighted to have my opinion asked on these various points. But the House is really interested only in the view of Her Majesty's Government, and perhaps your Lordships would now like to go on to the next Question.