HC Deb 19 October 1995 vol 264 c378W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to make public the conclusions of the consultation session on the revised Education (School Premises) Regulations 1995; and if she will make a statement. [37730]

Mrs. Gillan

Once the responses to the consultation have been analysed, a summary of their contents will be made available in the usual way.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which bodies she intends to consult concerning her proposals to amend the regulations for school buildings, and what evidence has been presented to her and from whom claiming that those extant are too stringent or too permissive. [37335]

Mrs. Gillan

[holding answer 16 October 1995]: We have consulted all organisations which are under a statutory duty to implement the school premises regulations, including local education authorities and the governing bodies of grant-maintained schools. We have also consulted a wide range of representative organisations with an interest in school buildings matters, including the local authority associations, governors' organisations and teachers' associations.

The revised school premises regulations were produced following a review conducted by the Department and the Welsh Office. We have taken the view, in the light of that review, that some of the provisions of the regulations should be removed. We shall, of course, take careful note of responses received from consultees which bear on that and other points.