§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice or guidance his Department is providing to assist local education authorities to reduce the incidence of vandalism and arson in schools and colleges in England and Wales.
§ Mr. ButcherAdvice and guidance to reduce the incidence of vandalism and arson is provided in building bulletins which are distributed to local education authorities. These publications describe measures for improved management, design, fire safety and risk analysis.
§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department is taking to establish the extent of vandalism and arson in schools and colleges in England and Wales; and what is his estimate of the annual cost of such damage.
§ Mr. ButcherThe Department obtained data from local education authorities, the insurance industry, and the Home Office in 1986 concerning vandalism and arson in maintained schools. It was estimated that the total annual cost in England and Wales was £26 million for vandalism and £23 million for arson. Data for colleges of further and higher education were not available. This level of damage and cost is unacceptable. I plan to meet representatives of local education authorities shortly to consider further joint action to reduce this unnecessary outflow of expenditure. In addition the Department will be initiating a further study to monitor the extent of vandalism and arson in schools and colleges in 1988 and in successive years.