§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources are being put towards teaching school children about environmental conservation; and if she will make a statement. [31614]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisI have been asked to reply.
Pupils' statutory entitlement to sustainable development education is supported, as are other areas of the National Curriculum, through the Government's local funding for schools. Overall, the Education Standard Spending Assessments for 2002–03 have been increased by £1.3 billion for 2002–03; the standards fund grant has been increased by almost £160 million; and the direct grant for schools by 2.75 per cent.
The revised National Curriculum, which we introduced in September 2000, provides the framework for sustainable development education in schools. Sustainable development is specifically included in Geography and Science, together with Citizenship, which will be introduced in September this year. Pupils learn about the connections between environmental, social and economic issues and about the consequences of the choices they make for the environment and other people. We have also sponsored the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to provide online resources for teachers (available at http://www.nc.uk.net/esd/). The Environmental Action Fund (£4.2 million) is this year funding 21 projects out of 115 to advance education for sustainable development for young people, while next year education will be one of only two priorities for the fund. The Growing Schools initiative (£0.5 million), which launched in September, will promote farming and growing as an education resource.