HC Deb 13 November 1996 vol 285 c284W
Miss Emma Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what amount of time primary school pupils are expected to devote to physical eduction each week; and what school facilities her Department assesses are necessary to support this. [4057]

Mrs. Gillan

It is for schools to decide how much time to allocate for the teaching of physical education. In deciding how much time to allocate, schools may wish to bear in mind the recommendation in the Government's 1995 "Raising the Game" policy statement on sport that they should offer two hours a week of physical education and sport in formal lessons.

The Department makes no assessment of the facilities necessary to support physical education teaching; this is a decision for schools.