§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy that the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument free of charge should be incorporated in the national curriculum.
§ Mr. ForthThe statutory order for music in the national curriculum already requires that pupils in maintained schools between the ages of five and 14 should perform music and, as they progress, develop the skills needed to make use of a range of increasingly sophisticated instruments. Schools are not permitted to make a charge to parents for instrumental musical tuition within school hours where such tuition is provided to meet the requirements of the national curriculum.