HC Deb 30 March 1984 vol 57 cc299-300W
Mr. Greenway

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the provisions for religious instruction for all children in Bradford schools; and if will make a statement.

Mr. Dunn

It is primarily for the local education authority and the schools themselves, in Bradford as elsewhere, to ensure that the statutory requirements on religious instruction are met. A new agreed syllabus for religious instruction was published by the Bradford local education authority in September 1983. The Department has received no recent representations about religious instruction in schools in Bradford.

Mr. Greenway

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which schools have discontinued a daily act of worship in the Bradford area; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dunn

Section 25 of the Education Act 1944 requires that the school day in county and voluntary schools shall begin with collective worship on the part of all pupils, except those withdrawn by their parents. It is primarily for the local education authority and the schools themselves to ensure that this requirement is met. The Department has received no recent representations about the act of worship in schools in the Bradford area.