§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has(a) to introduce drug awareness lessons to students in primary schools and (b) to increase the time allocated for drug education in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement. [50926]
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§ Ms Estelle MorrisCertain aspects of drug education are already a statutory requirement of the National Curriculum at all key stages, including the primary key stages. In support of the Government's recently published new 10 year anti-drugs strategy, the Department will be issuing further guidance on the provision of drug education to teachers, youth workers and other professionals later this year. The guidance will outline the vital role that primary schools can play in the very early stages of a child's school career in concentrating on the development of the skills they need to resist before they are drawn into experimentation.
Beyond the requirements of the National Curriculum, it is for individual schools to consider whether, and if so how, they might wish to extend provision for drug education. In addition, within the statutory framework, schools are free to decide for themselves how best to organise drug education for their pupils. We have set up an advisory group on Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) which will advise the Government on strengthening the place of PSHE in the curriculum. Drug education is an important part of PSHE. Our planned guidance will aim to encourage schools to extend their programmes of drug education and develop the approaches which best meet their local situation, taking note of best practice.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for the future funding of drug education in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement. [50925]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe Department has made increased support of £7 million available to schools and the youth service this year, to assist primary and secondary schools and the youth service to deliver effective education about drugs. This builds on the £18 million of support made available through the Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) programme in the three years since 1995–96.
We continue to attach great importance to the provision of effective drug education in all schools, and we will continue to work closely with other Government Departments in taking forward the work programme of the new UK anti-drugs strategy, in which education has a major focus, and where we are encouraging a more integrated approach to Personal, Social and Health Education in schools.