RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Early day motion 1758, tabled 29 June 2009 by Ashok Kumar (Labour). Signed by 24 members.

That this House believes that fair and balanced education about religious and non-religious beliefs should be a part of the school curriculum and that it is important that such a subject be broad, objective and balanced; notes that the new draft guidance on religious education (RE) published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families contributes little to the evolution of the subject and fails to address any of the concerns surrounding the subject of RE; further believes that the current statute law on religious education is no longer fit for purpose in terms of the content and the mechanism of deciding on syllabuses it prescribes; and calls on the Government to commission a Government or independent review of the primary legislation on RE with a view to reforming the law on RE.

Signatures by party: Labour 13, Liberal Democrat 10, Plaid Cymru 1.