Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Gibb and Jo Swinson

Monday 11th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire) (LD)]

10. When he plans to launch the internal review of personal, social, health and economic education announced in the teaching White Paper.

[The Minister of State, Department for Education (Mr Nick Gibb)]

We will announce details of the internal review of personal, social, health and economic education shortly. The issues covered in this subject are very important. We are taking time to ensure that the review, when it starts, can identify what schools need to do to improve PSHE while allowing teachers the flexibility to use their judgment on how best to deliver it.

[Jo Swinson]

Figures reported last week showed that among 13 and 14-year-olds more than 1,000 abortions were carried out last year, which just highlights the need for us to do better in providing high-quality sex education taught in the context of relationships. Will the Minister stop delaying the review—it was due to start in February —so that we can ensure that children have access to the vital information and learning they need to develop into healthy and confident young adults?

[Mr Gibb]

My hon. Friend is right to say that these are important issues. Children need to have good-quality PSHE at schools, and that is precisely what the review will cover. We are taking our time setting up the review to ensure that its remit is correctly drafted and that the quality of the review gives rise to a high-quality improvement in the teaching of PSHE in those subjects in our schools.