HL Deb 28 July 1986 vol 479 cc554-6

2.46 p.m.

Baroness Lane-Fox

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 will make a statement on Her Majesty's inspectors' guidance to schools on health education and related matters.

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, the Government welcomes the recent publication of the HMI discussion document Health Education from 5 to 16 as a valuable contribution to the development of good practice in this field. The document encourages schools and teachers to give due importance to health education. Young people need to be given the knowledge and skills needed to make responsible choices.

Baroness Lane-Fox

My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for that helpful reply. Do the Government have plans to co-ordinate health education programmes in schools?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, the Government have encouraged LEAs and schools, through the White Paper Better Schools and the provisions pf the current Education Bill, to think carefully about their curricular aims and policies in all areas. That should help to avoid any discontinuity or repetition. The particular need for effective health education co-ordination is one of the main messages of this discussion document. It is one which the Government hope will receive due consideration at local level where responsibility rests for the detailed organisation and content of the curriculum.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, may I ask my noble kinsman whether he is aware that there is great interest throughout the country in the prevention of ill-health? What plans do the Government have for instructing teachers in teacher training colleges on how to teach children that important subject?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, a range of relevant training opportunities exist for serving teachers at national and local level. They may not always be labelled "health education", but they deal with health-related issues within the broader context of personal, social, educational and pastoral care. The proposed new arrangements for the planning and funding of in-service training will encourage LEAs to plan training for teachers in general more systematically.

Baroness Fisher of Rednal

My Lords, will the noble Earl bear in mind in regard to health education for girls that there is a need to ensure that the vaccine to prevent German measles is given, and will he also bear in mind the need to extend the rubella campaign, so that children are not born blind and deaf?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, that is an important point. I am very grateful to the noble Baroness for raising it.

Lord Ritchie of Dundee

My Lords, do the Government have any plans to implement the recommendations in the HMI report that the sale of junk foods on school premises should be prohibited?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, we have no plans at present to issue a policy statement on health education, although I do not rule out the possibility of doing so at some future time should that seem appropriate. We shall watch with interest the education service response to the HMI discussion paper. We have indicated our intention shortly to issue a draft circular on the issues associated with sex education in schools. If any noble Lords feel strongly about anything, HMIs would be grateful to hear their response to this discussion paper and would welcome any comments.

Baroness Lane-Fox

My Lords, can my noble friend the Minister say whether there are any plans to extend the concern about health education to schools by involving parents in the school programmes?

The Earl of Swinton

My Lords, we have announed our intention to amend regulations to require schools to publish details of their health education provision. This makes clear the Government's expectation that all schools will offer health education and will ensure that parents are fully informed about the provision offered.