Schools: Water Supply

House of Lords written question – answered at on 15 November 2010.

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Photo of Baroness Tonge Baroness Tonge Liberal Democrat

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that those schools which are receiving capital funding grants for new premises under the building schools for the future programme will have toilet facilities which are in line with the recommendations set out in the new guidelines based on the 1999 School Premises Regulations.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to ensure that schools have toilet facilities compliant with the 1999 School Premises Regulations in those schools that will not be receiving additional capital funding following the cancellation of the building schools for the future programme.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to ensure that toilet and drinking water facilities in schools are at the same standards for pupils and for members of school staff.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a binding code of practice for toilet and drinking water facilities for pupils in schools which would be equivalent to the standards for school staff under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

Photo of Lord Hill of Oareford Lord Hill of Oareford The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education

Reviewing the requirements for toilets and drinking water provision, which are and will be the same for both new and existing schools, forms part of the exercise to streamline and consolidate existing legislation, regulations and guidance affecting school buildings. This review is part the work that we have commissioned from Partnerships for Schools for the capital review.

Currently, requirements for toilets and drinking water for pupils and visitors in schools are contained in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999. Those for teachers and other school staff are set out in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. We are reviewing both sets of requirements, together with earlier recommendations to update the school premises regulations, so that we will establish one set of standards for all school buildings.

At present the responsibility for ensuring that schools conform to the school premises regulations generally rests with local authorities, while responsibility for ensuring compliance with the workplace regulations sits with the Health and Safety Executive. The means for ensuring compliance in the future, when there is one set of standards, are under consideration as part of the capital review.

The capital review, a comprehensive review of capital investment in schools, was announced by the Secretary of State on 5 July. We expect to receive its main recommendations at the end of the year and this should include proposals for revised requirements for toilets and drinking water in schools.

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