To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what guidance has been provided on the implementation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in churches. (145722)

Comprehensive guidance to the legislation may be found on the Department of Communities and Local Government website and the Churches Main Committee has circulated supplementary guidance on the regulations' effect on places of worship. Church Fire Guidance Notes are available from Ecclesiastical Insurance and from the Churchcare website

http://www.churchcare.co.uk/atoz_fire.php

Churches should be aware that, in practice, the 2005 Order did not significantly change the requirements falling on them. All churches are recommended to make a ‘suitable and sufficient’ risk assessment and act upon it.