Debates between Baroness Whitaker and Lord Anderson of Swansea during the 2010-2015 Parliament

Mon 24th Oct 2011

Education Bill

Debate between Baroness Whitaker and Lord Anderson of Swansea
Monday 24th October 2011

(13 years ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Whitaker Portrait Baroness Whitaker
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I agree with everything that my noble friend says. I have nothing against the teaching of faith. My remarks were directed solely at an act of worship.

Lord Anderson of Swansea Portrait Lord Anderson of Swansea
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Perhaps I misunderstood my noble friend. I thought I heard her refer to the teaching of “one faith” as if it were just one among many. Surely the key point is that it is essential for us as British people to learn about our civilisation and history and about the intertwining of the religion that has been sometimes a cause of internecine conflict but always of late something that promotes tolerance and makes us perhaps some of the most tolerant peoples in the world. I hope that it will be recognised by the House that if children were to be deprived of what may be their only opportunity to learn an essential part of their history and of their very being as British people, it would be a very sad day.