§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what(a) assessment his Department has made and (b) guidance he has issued on the ergonomics of school furniture. [186145]
§ Mr. MilibandIn 2001 my Department oversaw and part-funded the largest data collect ion of children's sizes since the 1950's, and contributed to a European Standard on School Furniture (due at the end of this year) to allow children to be better "fitted" to several furniture size marks. An interactive website is being prepared which will enable specifiers to accurately determine the size of furniture that a child should be using. Published in 2000, my Department's Furniture and Equipment Guide has detailed section on design quality with ergonomic considerations for various types of adjustable furniture. The Department is represented on relevant BSI committees and works closely with, amongst others the British Educational Supplies Association, the furniture Industry Research Association and the Design Council on furniture issues.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has commissioned into the impact on children's long term health of poorly designed school furniture. [186146]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggMy Department has neither undertaken nor commissioned research into the effects on children's health of poorly designed furniture, but is aware of a number of studies carried out by others on issues such back pain. We are advised that the main cause of such problems is often the use of inappropriately sized furniture rat her than poor design.