A joint statement from the Church of England and Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has given a mixed reaction to a proposed amendment to a new education bill, which is currently being considered by the House of Commons.

The statement was issued by the Rt Revd Alan Chesters, Bishop of Blackburn, chairman of the Church of England Board of Education, and the Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference Department for Education and Formation.

"The Government has tabled an amendment to the Learning and Skills Bill with regard to sex and relationships education," the Bishops say in their statement. "It will impose a duty on the Secretary State for Education and Employment to issue guidance that protects pupils from inappropriate teaching and material. Schools will be required to follow the guidance."

The Bishops welcome the reassurance for parents that policy on sex and relationship education is a matter for each school's governing body and head teacher to decide, in consultation with parents, and not for local education authorities.

"Whilst the amendment has been drawn up without consultation with the Churches," say the Bishops, "we welcome the Government's intention to give a clear statutory underpinning to sex and relationships education within a defined values and moral framework."

However, the Bishops express their regret that the Government has failed to take this opportunity in this legislation to affirm the place of marriage. "We look to the forthcoming guidance to state clearly the importance for all pupils of positive teaching about marriage," they say.