§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the sustainability strategy is for his Department; and if he will make a statement on how it has changed since the world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg. [83499]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggSustainable development is an integral part of the Department's annual planning cycle, which is subject to mid-year review. We were one of the first Departments to do this.
We have embraced sustainable development in our Strategic Framework to 2006 "Education and Skills— delivering results; A Strategy to 2006", where we have said publicly that we will deliver:
A Departmental Investment Strategy for schools, colleges and universities in England which encourages sustainable development and modernises the estate, helping to enrich communities and make towns and cities better places to live and work in.This recognises the significant impact on the social and economic aspects of sustainable development through our core business of raising educational standards and improving skills, including education for sustainable development (ESD). Specific actions include a statutory entitlement to ESD in the revised National Curriculum in England and the introduction of Citizenship as a new National Curriculum subject from September 2002. We are ensuring that we build on this progress through our joint sponsorship with DEFRA of the Sustainable Development Education Panel and through specific school initiatives such as Growing Schools, which promotes the outdoor classroom.
Furthermore, the Learning and Skills Council have funded 11 pilots to identify and share good practice on education for sustainable development in the Further Education sector, and have plans for a further 12 pilots. While in higher education, we are supporting the Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (HEPS) project through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), which aims to develop a sustainability reporting system for the higher education sector.
We have reported progress made by the Department for Education and Skills estate in the recent Sustainable Development in Government Report for 2002, launched on 27 November, and towards the UK Sustainable Development headline indicators in the Government Annual Report on Sustainable Development. This Department has a direct influence on two headline indicators: H5—Qualifications at age 19; and H4— working age people with no qualifications, as well as eight lower level "national" indicators.
In line with new targets set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate, we will be reporting, along with other Departments, on our various sustainable development impacts, progress and achievements by April 2003. This will take the form of a new website bringing together the various sources 567W of information about the Department for Education and Skills' sustainable development impacts and achievements in one easily accessible place.
Outcomes from the World Summit on Sustainable Development and first views on follow-up will be reflected in the Government Annual Report on Sustainable Development for 2002. We will consider the outcomes, along with other Departments and will contribute where necessary.