BEDE'S WORLD

Early day motion 44, tabled 22 May 1997 by Stephen Hepburn (Labour). Signed by 20 members.

That this House recognises the Prime Minister's commitment to improve education; notes the Venerable Bede (AD673-753), a Northumbria boy who grew up to be one of Europe's greatest scholars, lived and worked as a monk at the monastery in Jarrow founded in AD681 by Benedict Biscop; further notes that the Venerable Bede lived during the golden age of Northumbria at a time of artistic and intellectual achievement to which he made a great contribution, in his day Jarrow was renowned as a place of learning; notes today that Bede's World, based at St Paul's Monastery on the banks of the river Don, is still a centre of international, historical, religious and cultural importance; applauds the efforts of the management board and staff of Bede's World in bringing back to life the story of early mediaeval Northumbria and the life and times of Venerable Bede, which in 1996 attracted over 36,000 visitors; and draws to the attention of those involved in handing out grants and lottery money that centres like Bede's World have the same if not greater international religious and cultural importance than some of the prodigious projects which have already received massive grants in larger city areas.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Labour/Co-operative 3, Liberal Democrat 2.