§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up a working party to investigate political and moral education in schools, and the need for balance in all areas of the curriculum ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. My Department is currently supporting a research project by the University of London Institute of Education, in conjunction with the Hansard Society and the Politics Association, into the provision of political education in schools. A political education working party has also been set up within Her Majesty's Inspectorate. Much work relating to moral education has been undertaken by the Schools Council ; and the Social Morality Council, which published a national plan for moral education in 1978, has established a resource and information centre with support from my Department. It remains the responsibility of individual local education authorities and schools to consider the balance of emphasis within these subject areas and across the curriculum generally.