§ Ms KellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Education and Employment about the role of physical education and sport in the national curriculum. [95952]
§ Kate HoeyMinisters and officials from DCMS and DfEE work closely together and share a common aim to improve the quality of Physical Education and sport provision in schools. DCMS was involved in the National Curriculum Review announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in September. We welcome the restoration of the PE programme of study for primary schools, to be re-introduced from September 2000.
On 5 October, the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for Redditch (Jacqui Smith), and I both spoke at the Sport England Conference "Education and Sport". We are also working together to develop the Active Schools Sports Co-ordinators initiative in schools. I have met with, and will continue to meet, my hon. Friend to discuss Physical Education and sport in schools.