§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether religious instruction will be included in the national core curriculum; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldReligious education is already a compulsory subject for pupils in maintained schools under the provisions of the Education Act 1944. The Government's recent consultation document on the national curriculum reflects our strong conviction that religious education must continue to be taught in schools and makes clear that time must continue to be found for it for all pupils. We shall seek to ensure that the present statutory requirements relating to religious education are enforced as effectively as those proposed for the foundation subjects of the national curriculum.