THE Government is set to confirm its exact plans for expanding bone marrow education in schools and colleges.

On Monday the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, will reveal what his plans are for educating 16 to 18-year-olds about bone marrow donation.

His answers will come in response to a Commons question from Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford.

She asked Mr Balls ‘‘what plans he has to make materials available to schools and colleges for 16 to 18-year-olds on registering for bone marrow donation; and when he expects these materials to be included in the national curriculum?’’

Ms Mountford asked the question as part of the Examiner’s Sign Up For Sudders campaign, which is being fronted by 26-year-old journalist Adrian Sudbury.

Adrian is dying from the leukaemia he has battled for 18 months. He is spending his last weeks raising awareness about the need for more bone marrow donors and dispelling myths about what being a donor involves.

He is also pushing for the Government to introduce compulsory education on the topic for 17 and 18-year-olds in schools and colleges across the UK.

Ms Mountford said: “It is important that we have this commitment from Ed Balls on the record, so that it is absolutely clear to everybody in advance of September what is going to happen and that the Government is clear in its intention.”

Adrian met Mr Balls and Health Secretary Alan Johnson in May and secured their backing for improving education.

The Government is expanding its Give And Let Live scheme in schools from September. This will educate 14 to 16-year-olds about blood, organ and bone marrow donation.

Mr Johnson and Mr Balls are writing to schools over the summer, asking them to roll out the scheme for pupils up to 16 and, where possible, 18.

Ms Mountford added: “Not all schools have sixth forms and Government departments can only deal with those that they have direct control of, which does not include colleges.’’

Adrian says it is vital that efforts continue to be made to target the 17 to 18 age group.

He said: “They are at an age then when they can actually sign up to donate. If we have a talk at 14 and then follow it up in college or sixth form Britain could have one of the best donor education schemes in the world.”

You can support Adrian’s drive to get better donor education for 17 and 18-year-olds by signing the Examiner’s petition on the Downing Street website.

The petition is at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/bone-marrow and has more than 7,300 signatures. It closes on July 23 and Adrian hopes to get to the landmark number of 10,000.

To find out more about Adrian and his campaign visit http://baldyblog.freshblogs.co.uk

To find out more about becoming a donor visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk or www.blood.co.uk