HC Deb 18 March 1965 vol 708 cc1459-60
14. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he regards as a reasonable minimum temperature for school classrooms and school buildings; and if he has recommended, or will recommend, any standard to local education authorities.

Mr. Prentice

The school building regulations lay down standard temperatures appropriate to different parts of a school; a temperature of 62 degree F. is required in teaching rooms.

Mr. Allaun

Is my hon. Friend aware that despite this there are schools in which children are being taught in completely unheated or barely heated classrooms even on the coldest days? Will he see that the regulations are carried out?

Mr. Prentice

If that is so, it is contrary to the regulations and I shall be glad to have details from my hon. Friend.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Will the Minister recognise that some rural schools, particularly where these conditions apply, had intended to make improvements under the minor capital works programme and that the cuts that the Minister has made have disabled them from doing this?

Mr. Prentice

I shall be going into detail on this later, and that is one reason why I was glad to be able to announce a higher minor works programme than had been decided on by the former Government.