§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what legal safeguards exist against overcrowding in schools. [40583]
§ Mrs. GillanThe legal safeguards are those set out in my reply of 19 March,Official Report, column 121. Regulation 17(3) of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996 requires that every part of a school building shall be such that the health, safety and welfare of occupants shall be reasonably assured. Regulation 7 requires that the buildings provided for a school shall be adequate to permit the safe and convenient passage of persons and movement of goods within the buildings.