I am delighted to welcome the scout association to Downing street and to give support to its appeal.
From its origins on brownsea island in 1907, scouts have grown to become one of Britain's most successful institutions. After eighty years it is stronger and more popular than ever.
Despite the demographic dip, its membership is 562,000 boys (and girls) and is growing. There are nearly 100,000 adult voluntary leaders. Over 3 million supporters among parents, teachers and friends. [end p1]
One in four men in Britain was once a scout, including Andrew Turnbullmy principal private secretary, who is extremely proud of his back woodsman badge.
The main requirement of which was to survive a weekend in a grass hut of one's own making—extremely useful training for the upper echelons of the civil service. [end p2]
I have no idea how many of my parliamentary colleagues were scouts. One test I suppose is the famous drawing in early editions of Baden Powell 's “Scouting for boys” .
The good scout stands like this [head up, shoulders back]
The bad scout stands like this [round shoulders, slouch]
As one looks at the House of Commons, perhaps not very many! [end p3]
Success
Why is it scouts are proving so successful, or as Geoffrey Mulcahy would describe it, why are they gaining market share? With growing affluence and the proliferation of other attractions, it seems improbable. Why despite the lure of television and video do more and more children turn up week in week out?
Let me suggest some reasons. [end p4]
First, scouting has been more successful than many of our schools in preserving some old-fashioned but attractive virtues. For example:
—A disciplined framework, within which self-expression and self-reliance are encouraged; —The value of healthy competition, with patrol against patrol, troop against troop. [end p5]
Secondly, scouts have been outstandingly successful in keeping abreast of the times. Twenty years before the national curriculum, scouts undertook a major reappraisal of their own curriculum, of their role and their style. They achieved that most difficult of feats, modernisation while retaining the best of their traditions. though personally I'm sorry to see the departure of the wide brimmed hat. Such versatility. What else could both be used to carry water from a stream and fan a dying fire? [end p6]
Recently, it was decided to admit girls into scout troops, though they have been venture scouts for some time.
I am sure progress will be much faster progress than in the House of Commons!
Much of the credit for the successful modernisation of the scouts must go to Chips Maclean who died recently. I am delighted to have this opportunity to pay tribute to him for he was undoubtedly a great chief scout. [end p7]
Thirdly, scouting has been successful because it appeals to the best in our children. Deep down they have changed much less than would-be social reformers have imagined. The virtues of the scout laws—honesty, loyalty, kindness, courtesy—are still there (with the possible exception of thrift!). We see this repeatedly in work the scouts do for charity, whether raising money themselves, or helping out at larger events. Given the right guidance, the right framework, our children are ready to take on responsibility. indeed, the whole structure of the scout movement, from the patrol, through troop, to district, is designed to foster leadership. [end p8]
Scouting abroad
We should never forget, of course, that scouting is not just confined to Britain. Along with parliamentary democracy, the common law, the English language and cricket, it is one of the country's finest exports. Scouts are one of the few truly international movements, appealing to all colours and creeds.
I learn that scouting has existed in a clandestine fashion in East Europe and with the new freedom there, it is beginning to rise again. A delegation has only recently returned from Moscow and a return visit is expected shortly. [end p9]
Appeal
Finally, let me turn to the purpose of this evening's reception. The scout association needs funds not only to develop its training facilities and programmes, but also to pay for a recruitment drive among ethnic groups and in our inner cities. To establish new groups, they need to train new leaders. The scout leadership training is excellent, indeed it was the only voluntary body to win a department of employment national training award in 1989. But the facilities, particularly at Gilwell Park in Epping Forest, need to be improved. [end p10]
Scouts have raised money for others for many years. Now it is our turn to repay the compliment. I wish this appeal every success and urge you to give it every support.
I now pass you on to Geoffrey Mulcahy who is chairman of the scout support committee, though probably better known as one of our more successful retailing companies.