MSE News: Over 100 MPs to fight for financial education in schools

Former_MSE_Guy · 31 January 2011 at 10:11AM

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Major campaign for compulsory money teaching launches on Monday in bid to break the nation's debt cycle ..."

Read the full story:
Over 100 MPs to fight for financial education in schools

sags · 31 January 2011 at 11:02AM

MSE - you encouraged us all to write to our MPs so the least you could tell us is who this "over 100" MPs are.

It actually means that about 500 MPs did not sign up which is pretty poor.

Perhaps in future cut-n-paste email campaigns you should create a special per campaign email address which people can cc/bcc that way you can track how many people wrote to which MPs via your site and compare that to those that sign up?

Former_MSE_Wendy · 31 January 2011 at 11:38AM

sags wrote: »

MSE - you encouraged us all to write to our MPs so the least you could tell us is who this "over 100" MPs are.

It actually means that about 500 MPs did not sign up which is pretty poor.

Perhaps in future cut-n-paste email campaigns you should create a special per campaign email address which people can cc/bcc that way you can track how many people wrote to which MPs via your site and compare that to those that sign up?

Hi sags

Thanks for the idea, we'll bear that in mind for future campaigns.

We've been asked not to list all the MPs names, and aren't in possession of the complete list but let me know your MP and i'll see if they were on the list we were given last Wednesday.

Wendy

bargainbetty · 31 January 2011 at 12:27PM

I would also like to see a Named and Shamed list of those MPs who refused to take part. My MP wrote me a letter telling me that he felt there was a lot of financial education in schools, and he was essentially too busy to offer any form of support to this.

Shame on you Bob Stewart, Conservative MP for Beckenham.

The_One_Who · 31 January 2011 at 12:37PM

I already had financial education in my school. It really depends on what they would be teaching, because some things are better than others. And there is only so much time in the school day.

sags · 31 January 2011 at 1:41PM

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for the quick response.

My MP is Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent North. Is he on the list?

Out of interest who asked you not to publish the list? Surely it must be public information? The fact that a pro-consumer organisation has been asked to limit information to consumers incites me write to someone at the house of commons and request it (to which they'll have to reply I guess cos of the Freedom of Information act)

MSE_Martin · 31 January 2011 at 1:42PM

Hi guys

We will eventually publish the full list of MPs - the 140 have pledged to join, but as the group doesn't technically launch till 4.30pm today they haven't officially signed yet (and a few are away) so we're waiting until we have everyone down to par before publishing.

However, for now, we've been asked not to, as is protocol.

As for name and shame - do remember members of the govt (secretaries of state, ministers, junior ministers and in some case parliamentary private secretaries) can't join APPGs, nor can shadow ministers so only about 400 are eligible.

Also quite a few MPs have fairly written back to their constituents (we rely on people to report this to us) saying: "I am already a member of a number of APPGs/select committees and strongly support what you are doing but can't dedicate the time to it". We haven't yet heard of an MP who disagrees with it.

Oldernotwiser · 31 January 2011 at 2:11PM

I would be interested to know whether "all schools" includes those in the private sector - where most MPs' children are educated.

sags · 31 January 2011 at 3:02PM

Thanks for clarifying the situation re the publication of MPs names and who cannot join.

Slenderhead · 31 January 2011 at 7:09PM

Absolutely absolutely absolutely... I've been banging on about this for years. Its not rocket science, and surely even putting an emphasis on 'the big wide world' into the syllabus of every school, every teacher could help advise the students and stop so much trouble and heartache for millions.
Credit cards, mobile contracts, credit checks etc... You have to explain this to young people, it will make our country great again.

hunnie · 2 February 2011 at 12:37PM

Hi,
I am aged 60 and grew up in a poor area but we had what I would call financial education back then.
We learnt about the difference between simple and compound interest. Also how to read electricity and gas bills. This was in the maths lessons.
I would have thought it was still possible to integrate finance into maths lessons/problems without having to create separate lessons and make such a fuss.
Regards, Hunnie

MSE News: Over 100 MPs to fight for financial education in schools

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