HL Deb 16 March 1987 vol 485 cc1209-10

2.42 p.m.

Lord Mellish

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 which schools in the London area have refused to allow police to show the video "Have Fun, Take Care"; and what action they will take concerning such refusal.

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, I understand that the police have not yet approached individual schools. However, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has asked the leader of the Inner London Education Authority to act to ensure that teachers co-operate with the police over the showing of the video.

Lord Mellish

My Lords, I am obliged to the Minister for that Answer. Is she aware that when I tabled the Question there was some very bad publicity and a number of schools were refusing to show the video because of their detestation of the police? I do not understand the reason for that. However, since then, ILEA has displayed a progressive attitude and has urged every school to show the video. I have seen the video. I commend it as essential viewing for children in order that they should learn of the dangers in accepting lifts from strangers and so on. Will the noble Baroness do all she can to ensure that every school in London has a chance of showing this excellent video?

Baroness Hooper

Yes, indeed, my Lords. I believe that the hostility shown by the Inner London Teachers' Association at the idea of showing the video has been very much squashed, and I hope that schools will not refuse to show the video in view of the real concern of parents about child abuse in particular.

Lord Leatherland

My Lords, can the Minister tell us what this film is all about, because some of us have not seen it?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, the film has been produced as a result of collaboration between the Metropolitan Police and the Inner London Education Authority. It is intented to teach children, particularly very young children, to be on their guard as regards possible abduction and child abuse. I believe that in the odd project where the film has been shown, it has been well received by the children in particular.

Lord Irving of Dartford

My Lords, would the noble Baroness accept that this scheme was introduced jointly by the Metropolitan Police and ILEA on 18th February, and therefore has the fullest support of ILEA? Will she further accept that it has never been the policy of ILEA to exclude the police from schools but rather, to work in the fullest co-operation with them? With regard to the comments, properly made by the noble Lord, Lord Mellish, about the remarks made in Hackney, the secretary claims that he was misquoted, and the Hackney Teachers' Association is now in support. The Inner London Teachers' Association has taken no steps to resist the video, and the Inner London Education Authority anticipates no difficulty in ensuring that it will be seen in every school.

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, we certainly welcome the co-operation of the Inner London Education Authority in this matter. However, we understand that the Inner London Teachers' Association did display hostility initially, and I can only say that for any head teacher to adopt a hostile attitude towards the police in this matter as in any other would be both deplorable and unprofessional.

Lord Hutchinson of Lullington

My Lords, can the Minister think of any motto which is better for the guidance of adult life than this one?

Baroness Hooper

Not offhand, my Lords.