HC Deb 17 December 1970 vol 808 cc1554-5
23. Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy regarding fire precautions in schools.

Mrs. Thatcher

I attach great importance to the maintenance of adequate fire precautions. Safety requirements are laid down in Statutory Regulations.

Mr. Barry Jones

Is the right hon. Lady aware that many schools, particularly primary and nursery schools, are built of wooden units which are very much a fire risk? Is she further aware that combustible materials are sometimes stored against the outside walls of such buildings? Is she absolutely sure that adequate fire precautions are observed regularly in these schools?

Mrs. Thatcher

I can only point out that Her Majesty's Inspectors visiting schools would normally draw attention to any obvious deficiency in the precautions taken against fire.

Mr. Selwyn Gummer

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the key words in her last sentence were "obvious deficiency"? Is she aware that when the Inner London Education Authority recently carried out a survey it was found that very many schools were way below the standard required by these instructions, and as this is a very serious situation will she take some urgent action?

Mrs. Thatcher

I am sure that if that was so in I.L.E.A. the attention of the authority was drawn to it, and I trust that the position was remedied.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Will the Secretary of State consider increasing the rate support grant if the Fire Precautions Bill which is now going through Parliament means that many local authorities will have to spend more money on fire precautions because in many areas precautions are very inadequate?

Mrs. Thatcher

The Fire Precautions Bill proposes that schools shall be subject to the certification procedure. I had not thought of increasing the rate support grant. In any case, the question would be not for me but for my right hon. Friend.