§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve fire safety in(a) offices and (b) schools.
§ Mr. John PattenOffices where more than 20 persons are at work at any one time or more than 10 persons are at work elsewhere than on the ground floor, are already required to have a fire certificate unless they have been exempted by the fire authority from this requirement. Fire authorities have powers to enforce the requirements of fire certificates which require offices to be provided with adequate means of escape and means for fighting fire and to provide training for employees in action to be taken in the event of fire.
In offices which do not require a fire certificate, the occupier must by law provide such means of escape in case of fire and such means for fighting fire as may reasonably be required.
Guidance for occupiers in the form of a code of practice for fire precautions in factories, offices, shops and railway premises not required to have a fire certificate was issued in April. It is available to the public from HMSO outlets.
The Home Office will be publishing next month a basic guide to fire safety at work which will also be available from HMSO outlets. It is aimed not only at occupiers, but at all those with management responsibility.
Fire safety in schools is primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.