Education (Values of British Citizenship) Bill [HL]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth Excerpts

2nd reading
Friday 18th October 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Con)]

My Lords, it is a pleasure to speak in this debate. I congratulate the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Harries of Pentregarth, on the introduction of the Education (Values of British Citizenship) Bill. I refer noble Lords to my entry in the register of interests.

It is a great pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Blower, and I congratulate her on the important work she is doing on Show Racism the Red Card. I also agree with the decoupling of the Prevent strategy—I will say something about that later—although it is nevertheless important.

The changes that this small Bill brings about are few, but they are important. They are largely but not exclusively based on the work of the House of Lords Citizenship and Civic Engagement Committee, which reported in April 2018—some time ago—and was so ably chaired by my noble friend Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts.

Broadening out British values as shared values of British citizenship seems wise; it strengthens those values, recognising they are both international and essentially British. It is absolutely true that we cannot take democratic institutions and their survival for granted. They are being challenged, and it is important that we seek to protect them. I see the Bill as doing just that.

The Bill also substitutes respect for the inherent worth and autonomy of every person in place of the existing mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. I support that too; that is important.

I quite understand the rationale behind breaking the link between the curriculum and the counter-extremism policy, Prevent. It is right to break that link, but of course, a massive number of incidents involve not just some religious fanatics but also the far right. The link should be broken, but that does not mean that the strategy is not very important. Breaking the link strengthens both the strategy and the curriculum.

As I say, I very much support the Bill. In my view, the extension to respect for the environment is also to be welcomed. The desire to protect our earth, seas, lakes, rivers, and flora and fauna is inherent to our education and our very being. I have just one question for the noble and right reverend Lord and possibly for the Minister: education is a devolved policy matter in Wales—devolved therefore to the Senedd—yet the legislation purports to cover both England and Wales. There may well be some very good reason for that, but I cannot quite see it myself, and I would be grateful if somebody could clear up that apparent discrepancy.