HL Deb 07 March 1985 vol 460 cc1443-4

3.6 p.m.

Lord Sandys

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the recent guidance of the RSPCA on the care of animals in schools, and whether they are satisfied that sufficient care is being taken to protect animals from pupils and pupils from animals.

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, the Government are aware of the recently-published RSPCA booklet entitled Animals in Schools, which was drawn up in consultation with advisers from local education authorities in England and Wales and contains helpful guidance for schools. Advice on the care and maintenance of living animals in schools and on the health and safety aspects involved has also been published by the Department of Education and Science. It is for local education authorities and individual schools to ensure that suitable procedures for the protection of both animals and pupils are followed.

Lord Sandys

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that very helpful reply. Can he give some indication of the numbers of schools involved in looking after animals? In addition, will his department commend generally the use of this document to the schools concerned?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, so far as the numbers are concerned, I think I can best quote from News from the RSPCA, which is a brief that they published in conjuction with this booklet, in which they said that most schools in England and Wales keep animals. This fact was revealed by the RSPCA's education department from a two-year survey, the result of which led to the new publication.

Animals have been kept in schools for many years, and the advice published by the Department of Education and Science and other bodies has been made available to schools for some considerable time. The RSPCA's recent publication is helpful, and it should be read in conjuction with the other advice which has been published.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, may I ask my noble kinsman whether the Government are aware that in schools in America, Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia the ethical needs of animals, their treatment and care, are taught as part of the curriculum? Would this not help in giving us a more caring and less violent society in the long run?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, I must honestly admit that I have no idea whether the Government are aware of what is taught in other schools around the world. I would not know. For instance, I would not know whether they teach Baluchistani in Bulgaria. This seems to be somewhat wide of the Question on the Order Paper.

Baroness David

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether the Government are giving consideration to doing something about the large number of Acts which have to be respected by teachers who keep animals in their schools? There are six, according to this admirable publication Animals in Schools, one of them going back to 1876. It is quite a business for teachers to know exactly what they can do and what they cannot. It would perhaps be helpful if the law were to be brought up to date in this respect.

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Baroness for pointing out what I think was going to be my reply; that the Acts are all referred to in this admirable document, and I hope that teachers will use it to see what the requirements are.