§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information she has collated on the number of schools which make provision for access to drinking water throughout the school day. [42694]
§ John HealeyThe Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 require all schools to have a wholesome supply of drinking water. The Department for Education and Skills does not collect information about pupils' access to drinking water throughout the school day.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has issued in respect of access throughout the school day to drinking water. [42677]
§ John HealeyThe Department for Education and Skills (DfES) produced guidance in April 2001, to assist school caterers to implement nutritional standards for school lunches. This guidance states that the Secretary of State expects that drinking water should be available to all pupils, every day, free of charge.
The DfES circular, 0029/2000 (Standards for School Premises), gives advice on health and safety matters that schools should consider when positioning drinking water outlets. It also recommends that the pattern of demand for drinking water outlets should be considered by local education authorities, governing bodies and others when deciding how drinking water should be provided on school premises.
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§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding there is to meet the costs of the installation of drinking water supply to schools in Stoke on Trent, North; and if she will make a statement. [42695]
§ John HealeyAll schools are required to have a wholesome supply of drinking water. As this is a fundamental requirement for all school premises and should be installed when they are built, there is no specific capital funding available. We expect governing bodies and local education authorities to secure a continuing wholesome water supply to all schools as part of their duty to secure the health and safety of staff and pupils, and are sure that this is an important consideration for local education authorities in considering how to distribute capital funding.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what surveys she has conducted into the access to, and availability of, drinking water in schools. [42696]
§ John HealeyThe Department for Education and Skills has not conducted any surveys of access to, and availability of, drinking water in schools. It is for local education authorities, governors and schools to decide how and when drinking water should be made available to pupils.