Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the development of an optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the rights to early childhood education, free pre-primary education and free secondary education.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to investing in children and ensuring equal access to education. In the UK we already provide free pre-primary (reception years), primary and secondary education and have been leading globally on ensuring education for all. The UK considers that States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child should already be providing free education under the existing provisions of the Convention.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, as part of their commitment to be a "child-centred Government", to encourage schools to support students to send submissions to the United Nations Human Rights Council's open-ended intergovernmental working group on the development of the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the rights to early childhood education, free pre-primary education and free secondary education.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The UK government is committed to safeguarding and advancing children’s rights. We firmly uphold the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which we ratified in 1991. It is important for all children, regardless of race, religion or abilities, to have equal civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. We are dedicated to providing the best possible opportunities for all children.

Teaching about the UNCRC can be taught through the national curriculum for citizenship, which is compulsory at key stages 3 and 4. Citizenship enables pupils to understand their statutory rights, civic duties and responsibilities, as well as developing their understanding of human rights, local, regional and international governance and the UK’s relations with the rest of Europe, the Commonwealth, the United Nations and the wider world. Schools are free to tailor their curriculum to the needs of their pupils and this could include supporting students to send submissions to the UN Human Rights Council working group.

Found: Ravensdale (in the Chair); Baroness Blower; Lord Evans of Rainow; Baroness Garden of Frognal; Lord Hampton

Found: Ravensdale (in the Chair); Baroness Blower; Lord Evans of Rainow; Baroness Garden of Frognal; Lord Hampton

Found: Manningham-Buller (The Chair); Baroness Blower; Lord Evans of Rainow; Baroness Garden of Frognal; Lord Hampton

Found: Manningham-Buller (The Chair); Baroness Blower; Lord Evans of Rainow; Baroness Garden of Frognal; Lord Hampton

Found: Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL] 8 LORD HAMPTON LORD MOYLAN 57_ After Clause 30, insert the following

Found: LORD HAMPTON LORD MOYLAN 57_ After Clause 30, insert the following new Clause— “Implementing a Vision

Found: LORD HAMPTON LORD MOYLAN _ After Clause 30, insert the following new Clause— “Implementing a Vision

Found: Lord Hampton raised points on health and safety qualifications provided by the National Examination