The report, which brands efforts to prevent HIV and AIDS in the UK as "woefully inadequate", argued that early intervention work in schools is vital to stemming the spread of the disease.

The committee warned that only £2.9m is currently spent by government on national prevention programmes for HIV and AIDs, compared with £762m that is spent on treatment.

Although the committee admitted that government is unlikely to make SRE compulsory as it stands, it claimed that ministers should reconsider their position.

The report said: "We are of the view that a statutory basis for SRE is essential. This would ensure that SRE is given appropriate priority in school timetables, driving the development of consistent standards.

"It would also support the integration of HIV and AIDS teaching into SRE, avoiding reliance on the science curriculum to provide all teaching on what is a wide and complex subject."

Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain is chair of the Accord Coalition, which campaigns for inclusive education.

He urged the government to take heed of the House of Lord’s report and expand its current National Curriculum review to consider making Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education compulsory.

He said: "Surveys show that parents want children to receive PSHE, which includes SRE, that children want to receive more and better quality PSHE and that teachers want extra support and materials to help in teaching it."