THE notion of the "nanny" state takes on an almost literal meaning now that New Labour is telling parents when to put their children to bed.

For as part of the contracts that schools are to be required to draw up with pupils' parents, Education Minister David Blunkett wants the mothers and fathers of primary school children to ensure their youngsters get up to 12 hours' sleep.

Well, of course, sensible parents don't need telling that their children are less likely to do well at school if they are turning up only half awake through being allowed to stay up late gawping at the telly.

But how on earth does he expect schools or anyone else to make certain that feckless or irresponsible parents don't do this?

It may be all part of the government's high-minded education-improvement ideals, but in reality it can be no more than rhetoric - and an insight into New Labour's inability to resist its urge to boss people about.

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