§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the annual costs since 1979 of vandalism and arson in schools in Wales county by county; what measures he has taken to combat vandalism in schools in Wales; what liaison he has with the police in Wales on this subject; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe Department does not collect information on the cost of vandalism and arson in schools.
Last year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales opened the all-Wales crime prevention seminar which was chaired by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and was attended by education interests. In addition, the Department has informed county councils that they will be asked shortly for reports on action taken on crime prevention as a consequence of the seminar. My right hon. Friend has recently approved applications for education support grant in 1987–88 and beyond from South and Mid Glamorgan for projects to promote social responsibility in their area.
Advice on relationships between the police and schools has been circulated to LEAs in the document "Liaison Between the Police and Schools," issued jointly by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Society of 372W Education Officers. Further guidance for LEAs and school governors on such relationships will be given in a circular on the provisions of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 which will be issued by the Department shortly. In addition, senior officials of the Welsh Office are in regular contact with the four chief constables in Wales on matters of common interest.