§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what inquiries her Department is making into the safety of school buildings with timber-framed box girders.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy Department does not regularly collect detailed information about the components used in school building projects and since in any case direct responsibility for the safety of maintained educational buildings is a matter for the local education authorities, their chief architects have had their attention drawn to reports that faulty timber beams may have been used in certain school buildings. My officials are asking what steps are being taken to identify buildings which may be affected.