§ Rev. Martin Smythasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in view of current trends in under-fives and under-sevens education, what measures he proposes to introduce to ban political indoctrination of the very young in the state education system.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Education (No. 2) Act 1986 already prohibits political indoctrination in schools in England and Wales. Sections 44 and 45 of the Act impose duties on local education authorities, governing bodies and head teachers to forbid partisan political activities by junior pupils and the promotion of partisan political views in teaching, and to secure balanced treatment of any political issues. Since these provisions came into force, we have received no complaints about any alleged political indoctrination of pupils aged under seven. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to me.