Tory MPs block bill to give First Aid Training to Children

Conservative MPs have moved to block a bill to bring in compulsory first aid training in schools by talking non-stop until the time to discuss and vote on the issue ran out, also known as ‘filibustering’.

The ‘Compulsory Emergency First Aid Education (State-Funded Secondary Schools) Bill, which is backed by the British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross and St John Ambulance, was put forward in an effort to require all schools to teach first aid training to children as part of the UK’s national curriculum.

But the group of MPs used up all the allotted time for the bill by talking for hours meaning the issue could not be discussed or voted upon, subsequently meaning the bill had to be shelved as it was ‘talked out’.

The issue of ‘filibustering’ is not uncommon in the House of Commons and the tactic is used by MPs in an attempt to delay any crucial voting and debating on issues before they can be passed.

The debate was proposed by Labour’s Teresa Pearce and she was deeply disappointed by the Tories move, labelling the procedure as ‘puerile game-playing’ and ‘not what the people elected us to do.’

MP Philip Davies, who has become somewhat notorious for ‘talking out’ bills after he had previously spoken for 90 minutes non-stop to prevent a bill regarding free hospital parking for care givers, gave a 52 minute long speech whilst allowing questions from fellow Conservatives to take up time.

“The title gives away the principle of this Bill: compulsory emergency first aid education in state-funded secondary schools," he told MPs.

"The point I am trying to make is that I do not agree with the principle of compulsory first aid education in schools.

"Why on earth would I allow a Bill that principle of which I don’t like a second reading?”

In response to the ‘filibustering’ accusations and the bill in general, Davies believes that first aid training should be considered by each school individually rather than a stipulation in amongst an already jam-packed national curriculum.

‘Schools can already teach first aid if they want to. They should make the decision rather than have it forced on them by Whitehall.’

‘You look at schools in Bradford and they are struggling with English and Maths without having to set aside time to teach first aid. I think the decision should be made on a school by school basis. We should be encouraging children to learn these skills in girl guides or scouts.’

‘The fact that not even 100 MPs out of 650 showed up to this bill showed it did not have the full support.’

A petition was started earlier in the year regarding the act of ‘filibustering’ or ‘talking a bill to death’ via the UK Government and Parliament website, and has already attracted over 27,000 signatures. Once the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

On the subject of Compulsory First Aid Training in Schools, we are of the opinion that the more people who are first aid trained the better. These are a set of skills which could ultimately save the life of someone and the idea of being able to implement training at a young age means that all schools children can take the skills they learn to adult life.

We have previously blogged about this very topic and stated our reasoning for backing first aid training in schools. It would mean that every year there would be 1 million new first aiders in a generation.

Currently, 7% of the UK population have the skills and the ability to perform basic first aid assistance to someone in an emergency.

defibshop Chief Executive David Howarth said: “It’s extremely disappointing and frustrating to see this bill being shelved and dismissed in the House of Commons without even so much as a debate.’

‘Whilst we realise teachers work hard in schools and the current curriculum is packed with compulsory topics already, we feel that first aid training is a must.’

‘It will mean a massive increase in the number of people who are first aid trained in the future and it is a set of skills which could help save someone’s life.’

To back our opinions, we decided to post a survey last year asking parents if they thought first aid and AED training should be made mandatory for teachers and pupils at school and the overwhelming response was yes with 76% of the vote.

Similarly, 92% of parents agreed that defibrillators should become a mandatory part of every schools first aid kit. Currently 270 children suffer a cardiac arrest and die in schools per year in the UK.

What do you think?

Should first aid training be made a compulsory part of the national teaching curriculum or should it be decided on a school by school basis?

Let us know your thoughts.Learn more about defibrillators