§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial resources and support is being put into teaching children at school about the environment and conservation in the current financial year. [69394]
§ Mr. MeacherThrough the Environmental Action Fund, the Department funds a range of projects providing educational materials and other support which can be used by teachers and children. Many of the projects in the current programme of £4.2 million are relevant in varying degrees to young people's understanding and awareness of environmental issues both in and outside school, but it is not possible to assign specific amounts to the schools element.
In addition, the Department has, with the Department for Education and Skills and the devolved Administrations, funded and supported the World Wildlife Fund school initiative, the Our World Project, in the run up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. A schools `makeover' competition and internet debates have offered pupils of all ages the opportunity to engage with key sustainable development issues.
All pupils between the ages of five and 16 study the national curriculum in maintained schools in England. Environment and conservation are covered within a range of subjects including science, geography and citizenship. The Department for Education and Skills is funding web-based resources to support teachers on sustainable development issues.
Sustainable development in schools has also been addressed by the Government's Sustainable Development Education Panel, which is jointly supported by my Department and the Department for Education and Skills.