Coventry MP's sprinkler bill for schools

A Coventry MP is calling for all new schools and colleges to contain automatic sprinklers to help prevent fires and save lives.

Jim Cunningham, Labour MP for Coventry South, said about 1,400 schools in the UK were damaged by fire each year, with almost a third occurring in daylight.

The cost of the damage from the fires is estimated at around £100m, he said.

His Fire Safety (Schools) Bill was given a formal first reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

However, it is unlikely it will become law due to lack of parliamentary time.

It was estimated that fewer than 200 schools out of 28,000 were fitted with sprinklers.

All new nursery, primary and secondary schools, academies and technology colleges would be required to fit sprinklers under his bill, Mr Cunningham said.