Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to give additional powers to school authorities with regard to(a) intruders and (b) trespassers into schools; and if he will make a statement. [29905]
§ Mr. AncramThe Offensive Weapons Bill, which is currently going through the House of Commons, will make it an offence to carry a knife on school premises and give the police the powers of search on school premises. These provisions will be extended to Northern Ireland. In addition, the Department of Education for Northern Ireland is urgently considering the action needed to implement in Northern Ireland the recommendations in the recent report from the working group on school security published on 14 May.