Politics has been added to the Scouting curriculum, as part of a move to encourage Scouts to be active citizens and participants in their communities.

Scout leaders will be encouraged to educate young people about Parliament, and have activities such as House of Common-style debates, alongside traditional activities such as camping and canoeing.

To celebrate the move, hundreds of Scouts challenged 50 MPs to test their brainpower during a head-to-head quiz held in Parliament this week. Thirty-two Scout groups from across the UK teamed up with their local MPs to compete against each other in a quiz hosted by Going for Gold’s Henry Kelly.

A spokesperson for the Scout Association said: “While outdoor activities and adventure will always be central to Scouting, preparing young people to get involved in their communities and become active citizens is also at the core of the movement. So for the first time in our history, we will launch a curriculum that builds the Scouts’ understanding of Parliament and current affairs. All our members throughout the UK will be encouraged to develop their knowledge of the world around them.”

In 2010, the Scout Association, Oxfam and the Hansard Society launched a campaign to encourage young people to vote.