§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to monitor the response of local education authorities to the ending of grants for education support and training—GEST—funding for health education co-ordination and the impact on the employment of dedicated health education staff;
(2) what plans he has to monitor the continued provision of drugs education in schools from 1 April.
§ Mr. ForthThe monitoring arrangements for the GEST preventive health education programme were set out in the original draft circular inviting bids, which issued on 1 July 1991. Amongst other things, this made clear that LEAs would be asked to provide by July 1993 a brief report on the work undertaken in 1992–93 and its effectiveness. My right hon. Friend will look to the Office for Standards in Education to provide him with information and advice about all aspects of education provision in schools. This will include provision made for preventive health education, aspects of which are included in the national curriculum and must be studied by all pupils.