FIRST Delia Smith taught us How to Boil an Egg and now education minister Charles Clarke wants to get back to basics – by adding how to iron a shirt, change a light bulb or sew on a button, to the school curriculum.

FIRST Delia Smith taught us How to Boil an Egg and now education minister Charles Clarke wants to get back to basics – by adding how to iron a shirt, change a light bulb or sew on a button, to the school curriculum.

The MP for Norwich South has launched a competition to kindle a debate about the "life skills" young people will need when they leave home or go to university.

He is calling on people, young and old, to e-mail him with their top five lessons and the sender of the best suggestion will win a personal guided tour of the House of Commons.

"We need to have a national debate about the core practical skills our young people need to learnt to equip themselves for independent adult life," he said.

"I'd say that changing a fuse, giving basic first aid and organising a holiday journey are all pretty essential, but I want to hear from the public."

Schools will have a part to play, said a spokesman for Mr Clarke, but it might not be appropriate for them to take on such things as ironing and mowing the lawn.

"First he wants to determine which skills people think are important and then he will decide how they fit in," he said.

In Suffolk, a county council spokeswoman said that it would be left to the individual schools how or if, they would implement such additions to lessons.

Other examples put forward include cooking a simple meal, opening and running a bank account, putting up curtains and knowing where basic information can be found.

The competition closes on January 31. Send your suggestions to lifeskillscompetition@dfes.gsi.gov.uk