§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what assessment she has made of the full cost of bringing all schools in Staffordshire up to acceptable standards of repair and maintenance; [16298]
(2) what assessment has been made, and by whom, of the current state and condition of existing schools and equipment in Staffordshire; [16279]
(3) which bodies currently have responsibility for ensuring that school buildings and equipment in Staffordshire are kept and maintained in a proper state of repair; [16278]
(4) what information she has collated in respect of each school in Staffordshire as to the outstanding repairs to buildings and equipment necessary to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. [16280]
§ Mrs. GillanLocal authorities and school governors are responsible for the upkeep of their schools.
WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list all deregulation measures relating to schools in Staffordshire; and if she will make a statement on their impact. [16297]
§ Mr. ForthThe Department is currently taking the following deregulatory measures, which relate to all maintained schools:
- the Education (Length of School Day) Deregulation Order 1996, now before Parliament; and
- the proposed new school premises regulations.
The deregulation order will help speed up the process by which schools may alter the length of their school day. The proposed new school premises regulations will abolish statutory minimum area standards for teaching space and playgrounds giving local authorities and school governors greater flexibility in building management.
366WIn addition, the Department is working to relieve the administrative burdens on schools caused by the volume and frequency of communications from central Government and their agencies.