§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the bodies which have made representations to his Department about the introduction of the new subject entitled economic awareness which he is considering introducing into school curricula; and what discussions are presently taking place between officials of his Department and representatives of local education authorities and teachers on this issue.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Department issued earlier this year a consultation letter to interested groups seeking comments on the Government's view that all pupils should 687W be equipped by the age of 16 with some economic awareness and understanding. The letter made clear our view that this objective could be achieved through a wide range of subjects in the curriculum and that translation of the principle into action in the schools was a professional matter for teachers. Responses to the consultation letter have been received from the local authority associations, teachers' organisations, individual local education authorities, employers' groups and individual companies, and from other interested groups and correspondents. These responses are being considered.