HC Deb 13 March 2001 vol 364 cc557-8W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the schools in(a) Cumbria, (b) Devon and (c) Northumberland which have been closed on account of the foot and mouth outbreak; [152761]

(2) what advice he gives local education authorities on school closures on account of the foot and mouth outbreak; [152749]

(3) what advice is being given to parents on whether children should be withheld from school on account of the foot and mouth outbreak. [152762]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 9 March 2001]: As at Thursday 8 March, only five schools in Cumbria, three in Devon, and none in Northumberland were still closed because of a local outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The following schools in these areas had earlier been closed at some point during the last two weeks, but most have since reopened:

Cumbria

Blackford Church of England Primary School; Hayton Church of England Primary School; Kirkoswald Church of England Primary School; Lochinvar Secondary School, Longtown; Longtown Infant School; Longtown Junior School; and Yanwath Primary School.

Devon

Black Torrington Church of England Primary School; Boasley Cross Primary School; Bradford Primary School; Highampton Primary School; Shebbear Primary School; and Widecombe-in-the-Moor Primary School.

Northumberland

Belsay First School; Greenhead Church of England First School; Hugh Joicey Church of England First School, Ford; and Stamfordham First School.

My Department has advised local education authorities that, provided sensible precautions are observed and hygiene measures taken, adults and young people living in areas where restrictions are in place following confirmation of foot and mouth disease locally should normally be able to continue to travel to school, and that schools should endeavour to open and provide a full curriculum—or failing that at least to provide care for children to enable parents to go to work. The full advice on these and other aspects is available to all schools, parents and others on the Department's website, and has been sent to all Chief Education Officers in England, and to other education-interest groups.