HC Deb 31 January 2000 vol 343 c425W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about school security. [107063]

Jacqui Smith

We take the issue of school security very seriously. The Working Group on School Security, set up after the fatal stabbing of Philip Lawrence in December 1995, continues to meet on a regular basis to advise on school security matters. Most of the Group's recommendations, published in its report in May 1996, have been implemented. One of those recommendations was that money should be made available specifically for school security improvements. I announced last month that £22 million would be made available in 2000–01 for school security, building on the £66 million that has been made available over the past three years.