§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made to date with his departmental commitment to promote environmental education in Wales.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsEnvironmental education has been given a place in the curriculum of all primary and secondary schools as a result of the introduction of the national curriculum. It is an integral element in a number of subjects including science, geography, history and technology. The Curriculum Council for Wales is currently producing guidance for schools on environmental education as a cross-curricular theme and this will be circulated to schools shortly.
The Curriculum Council for Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales have held a joint conference on practical ways of teaching environmental education in schools and a successful environmental competition has been held for schools in Wales.
An expert committee on environmental education in further and higher education has been set up to look at the provision of environmental education and will be reporting to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and my right hon. Friend shortly.