(2) how much has been allocated to programmes to educate secondary school children about how to manage personal finances; and if he will make a statement.
The Government recognise the importance of personal finance education for all young people. The National Curriculum for Citizenship, which is compulsory at key stages 3 and 4 (11 to 16-year-olds), includes teaching pupils about how the economy functions, including the role of business and financial services. In addition, the DfES has asked the QCA, as part of the wider review of GCSE maths and the emphasis on improving functional skills, to consider including financial capability more explicitly in the maths curriculum. QCA has also developed a package of guidance for teachers of PSHE which includes two units of work on financial capability. In September 2004, we made work-related learning a statutory element of the curriculum, and from September 2005 are funding schools to develop a new focus on enterprise education, defined as enterprise capability supported by better financial capability and economic and business understanding. We are also working closely with the Financial Services Authority to take forward its Financial Capability Strategy which includes support for schools to deliver better personal finance education.
It is for schools and local authorities to decide the level of resources required to support their personal finance education programmes.