HC Deb 09 March 1908 vol 185 cc1120-1
MR. WEDGWOOD

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he will state in detail what are the requirements of the Board of Education with regard to the design and structure of the buildings of public elementary schools in connection with the possibility of fire; what are the prescribed extent and possibilities of exit; what provision for extinguishing fire is supplied; and what fire drill is given.

MR. MCKENNA

All plans submitted to the Board are carefully scrutinised with a view to securing adequate safeguards in case of fire. It is impossible to lay down detailed rules applicable to schools of all sizes and types, urban and rural alike, but my hon. friend will find the general requirements of the Board set out in the building regulations, of which I will send him a copy. The code lays down that the scholars of any school not situated wholly on the ground floor should be practised in fire-drill.