Bullying (Hansard, 18 November 2003)

§ Dr. Kumar
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what services are available to(a) students and (b) teachers to deal with bullying in schools. [137538]

§ Mr. Ivan Lewis
Students receive support from their school's pastoral support system. In addition ChildLine's CHIPS programme, which is part-funded by my Department, enables students at participating schools to talk to a trained peer supporter, buddy or mediator. Students at other schools can ring ChildLine's confidential helpline (0800 1111).
Teachers can get support from senior managers in their schools, LEA advisory services (including the specialist Key Stage 3 Behaviour and Attendance advisers), the DfES anti-bullying pack "Bullying: don't Suffer in Silence" and the anti-bullying sections of our Key Stage 3 package of behaviour audit and training materials.

§ Mr. Woodward
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what the Government's estimate is of the proportion of children that were bullied in schools in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) the North West region and (c) Merseyside in each of the last three years; [137977]
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(2) what plans he has to reduce the number of children that are bullied in schools in England; and what additional resources the Government have made available in this financial year to schools to tackle bullying. [138010]

§ Mr. Ivan Lewis
Data on bullying is not collected centrally and there is no reliable basis for an estimate of prevalence. However, any level of bullying is too high so we are determined to help schools tackle it.
Our guidance pack for schools 'Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence' and anti-bullying website (www.dfes.gov.uk/ bullying) offer advice and examples of good practice in preventing bullying.
I recently launched a new public information film aimed at children and young people. "Tell Someone" encourages pupils experiencing bullying to tell someone who can help rather than suffer in silence.
Later this month I will be launching an anti-bullying Charter which I hope as many schools as possible will sign and use. The Charter is being drawn up in consultation with the professional associations and voluntary sector partners. It will be accompanied by a summary of effective practice to help schools review and enhance their anti-bullying policies.
The Charter will be launched at the first of a series of regional conferences. These conferences will involve schools, local education authorities and voluntary organisations. As well as raising awareness, they will celebrate and share good practice in tackling bullying.
We are investing nearly £470 million over the next three years in measures to tackle the full range of behaviour and attendance problems faced by schools and pupils. This programme promotes whole-school approaches and reflects local as well as national priorities so spending on bullying cannot be disaggregated. However, in 2003–04 we have separately provided ChildLine in Partnership with Schools (CHIPS) with £240,000 for anti-bullying work involving peer support and just over £190,000 to Parentline Plus for their helpline for parents which takes enquiries about bullying.