Highlands and Islands MSP's concern over lack of school sprinklers

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart has asked the First Minister about the risk of fire and lack of sprinklers in Scotland’s older schools.

During First Minister’s Questions today, he said: “The First Minister will be well aware, from reports in yesterday’s Times, that only a quarter of Scotland’s schools have sprinklers installed to slow down fires.

“According to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, 66 primary and secondary schools face a high risk of fires.

“New schools of course require sprinklers, but will the First Minister arrange an urgent new year’s meeting with local authorities to identify high risk older schools to retrofit sprinklers to protect our pupils, our teachers, and our staff.”

Nicola Sturgeon thanked Mr Stewart for raising the important issue and said she would ask the Deputy First Minister to respond in detail, including on the suggestion of a meeting in the new year.

But, she also pointed out, it was up to local authorities, which were responsible for the school estate, working with the fire and rescue service, to ensure fire safety plans were in place, and said the government had invested in the fabric of the school estate.

Mr Stewart previously introduced a Member’s Bill in the Scottish Parliament, leading a campaign for greater fire safety measures in Scottish social housing.

As a result, the Scottish Government is taking forward Mr Stewart’s bill, which requires fire sprinkler systems to be installed into all new-build social housing across Scotland, as a method of tackling Scotland’s high rates of fire death and injury.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.