HC Deb 12 July 1990 vol 176 cc317-8W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the use in schools of "Finding Out About Country Sports" published by Hobsons publishers for the Countryside Foundation.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about the publication "Finding Out About Country Sports". The representations claim that the publication is biased in favour of hunting. The Government are very much opposed to indoctrination of any kind in schools. Local education authorities, school governing bodies and head teachers are under a statutory duty to secure that where controversial issues are brought to the attention of pupils, they are presented in a balanced manner. (Section 45 of the 1986 Education (No.2) Act). Anyone who has evidence that the use of this publication in a particular school does not conform with section 45 may make a complaint to the local education authority by which the school is maintained.