§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on fire safety in prisons. [7399]
§ Beverley HughesFire safety in prisons is the responsibility of the individual prison governor. Prison governors are provided with guidance on the measures to be taken regarding fire safety in the form of written advice contained in the Prison Service publication "Fire Standards in Prison Establishments", copies of which are in the Library. Further advice is provided by fire safety qualified staff of the Prison Service Fire Safety Section.
Prison premises are exempt from the requirement to have a fire certificate under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 but are subject to the requirements of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 as amended 1999. In state prisons these regulations are enforced by officers of The Crown Premises Inspection Group of Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate. In private prisons the regulations are enforced by the local fire authority.
Information relating to Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive and information relating to Northern Ireland a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.