§ 28. Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the report of the National Commission on Venereal Disease which recommends that programmes should be given in co-educational schools beginning with children aged 11 years in regard to the national epidemic of syphilis and gonorrhœa, what action she is taking to include this subject in the curriculum of schools in the near future.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe situation in this country is not comparable with that described in the Report of the United States National Commission. The curriculum of secondary schools is a matter for the governors, but my Department has published general guidance on health education and I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to consider how the school medical service can help in this matter.