§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to school inspectors on the identification of good practice in the teaching of environmental education.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe statutory responsibility for school inspections rests with Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools in Wales under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 and extended in the Education Act 1993. It is for the chief inspector to issue to school inspectors such guidance on good teaching practice as he considers appropriate.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to require each further and higher education college in Wales to develop an environmental policy and action plan for implementation by the start of the 1994–95 academic year.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsI have no plans to do so at the moment. However, the report of a committee on environmental education in further and higher education was sent to all FHE institutions in Wales in February 1993. This report contained a specific recommendation that, after consultation with its staff and students, every FHE institution should formally adopt and publicise, by the beginning of the academic year 1994–95, a comprehensive environmental policy statement, together with an action plan for its implementation.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to establish a central co-ordinating agency in Wales to encourage environmental education.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsNone. However, the Countryside Council for Wales is currently discussing this matter with other interested organisations.