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<p>The Government does not collect information or publish statistics on the number
of schools, hospitals or care home buildings with planning permission, or which has
started on site, broken down by external wall type.</p><p>Schools are, in general,
safe environments in this regard as they are typically occupied during the daytime
and have multiple exit routes. In addition, all schools must comply with the Regulatory
Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including having an up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment
and conducting regular fire drills. The Department for Education is responsible for
this area.</p><p>Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Government has taken action
to ensure that the safety issues that caused it will not happen again. This has included
a survey to identify high-rise buildings over 18 metres tall, with Aluminium Composite
Material cladding, in England. The latest available information on the cladding status
of these building is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-monthly-data-release-end-october-2018"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-monthly-data-release-end-october-2018</a>.</p><p>In
addition, the Government established a Building Safety Programme that included an
independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety. Following the publication
of the review the Government announced in June 2018 that it intended to ban the use
of combustible materials on external walls of high-rise buildings, subject to consultation.</p><p>Following
consultation, the Government announced on 1 October 2018 that it will take forward
this ban on all high-rise residential buildings, as well as hospitals, residential
care premises, residential schools and student accommodation above 18 metres. This
ban will be delivered through changes to Building Regulations and will limit materials
available to products achieving a European classification of Class A1 or A2. The Ministry
for Housing, Communities and Local Government is responsible for this policy area.</p><p>NHS
trusts are locally responsible for their fire safety, and take it very seriously.
Fire safety guidance specific to the NHS Firecode, is provided to support them in
doing this. As with schools, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005,
NHS organisations must, as far as is reasonably practical, make sure that everyone
on the premises, or nearby, can escape safely if there is a fire. They will therefore
consider the ban on combustible cladding as part of the regular fire risk assessments
they carry out on their existing estate. The Department for Health and Social Care
is responsible for this area.</p><p> </p>
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