§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the new Open university initiative on environmental education; and when he next expects to visit the Open university to discuss the development of environmental education.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthI welcome the steps which the Open university has taken to integrate its environmental courses and develop an interdisciplinary environmental education programme. The Open university's contribution to this area was recognised in the environment White Paper, and has been supported by grants from bodies including the Countryside Commission and the Nature Conservancy Council. I understand that the University's proposals for environmental education were further discussed during the visit by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for the Environment in October last year.
I am expecting to visit the university in July, when I hope to see a range of its activities at first hand.