As of 23 January 2015, 124 confirmed orders had been placed for a total of 168 automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The list of schools as provided by NHS Supply Chain is as follows:

To help schools in considering whether to purchase these potentially life-saving devices, the Department for Education has also published advice on installing and maintaining AEDs on school premises. This advice is available online at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/automated-external-defibrillators-aeds-in-schools.

Between 26 November 2014 and 25 January 2015, the download page for this document was viewed 4,858 times.

I am pleased to confirm that the Department for Education announced new arrangements to allow schools to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at a competitive price on 26 November 2014. They are the result of a unique agreement between the Department for Education and the Department of Health, enabling NHS Supply Chain to purchase devices in batches from approved framework suppliers via a reverse auction process. The discount achieved on each batch is then passed on to schools through a reduced unit price.

To help schools in considering whether to purchase a defibrillator, the Department for Education has also published advice on installing and maintaining AEDs on school premises. This has been developed drawing on the expertise of NHS ambulance services and voluntary and community sector organisations.

By encouraging schools across the country to acquire these potentially life-saving devices, the Department hopes to make a vital contribution to ensuring that pupils and school staff who suffer cardiac arrests whilst at school have the best possible chance of survival. I hope that as many schools as possible will take advantage of the new arrangements.

The Department for Education is currently working in partnership with the Department of Health and stakeholders to finalise arrangements for rolling out defibrillators to schools. We have developed a detailed minimum specification in partnership with stakeholders to ensure that devices are appropriate to schools’ requirements and represent value-for-money. A reverse auction has been held and competitive bids submitted. The outcome of the process remains subject to approval. We expect to make an announcement in early December.

Officials from the Department for Education are currently working in partnership with Department of Health colleagues and stakeholders to explore a range of options.

The information requested is not held centrally. It is a matter for individual schools to decide whether to have an automatic external defibrillator.

No assessment of the proportion of schools in England which have defibrillators has been made.

We have placed an amendment in the Children and Families Bill to create a new duty on governing bodies of maintained schools (and proprietors of academies) to make arrangements to support pupils at school with medical conditions and to have regard to statutory guidance. The guidance is currently being developed in collaboration with members of the Health Conditions in Schools Alliance, schools and with parents and young people. We intend to consult on the draft guidance later this term.

We have placed an amendment in the Children and Families Bill to create a new duty on governing bodies of maintained schools (and proprietors of academies) to make arrangements to support pupils at school with medical conditions and to have regard to statutory guidance. The guidance is currently being developed in collaboration with members of the Health Conditions in Schools Alliance, schools and with parents and young people. We intend to consult on the draft guidance later this term.

Since November 2013, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has been considering the British Heart Foundation's very helpful report which my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy), presented to him following an earlier meeting.

At present, Government policy is that it is a matter for individual schools to decide whether to have a defibrillator and to arrange for suitable training of the school workforce in its use. The hon. Member will also wish to note, however, that we have placed an amendment in the Children and Families Bill to create a new duty on governing bodies of maintained schools (and proprietors of academies) to make arrangements to support pupils at school with medical conditions and to have regard to statutory guidance. The guidance is currently being developed in collaboration with members of the Health Conditions in Schools Alliance, schools and with parents and young people. We intend to consult on the draft guidance later this term.

It is a matter for individual schools to decide whether to have a defibrillator and to arrange for suitable training of the school workforce in its use. However, there is a common law duty on all staff to act in loco parentis while children are at school and we know that schools take their responsibilities for the health of all children seriously.

[holding answer 24 January 2013]: There is currently no requirement on schools to have a defibrillator on school premises. It is a matter for individual school determination as to whether they choose to have a defibrillator and to arrange for suitable training of the school workforce in its use.

[holding answer 30 November 2012]: There is currently no requirement on schools to have a defibrillator on school premises. It is a matter for individual school to decide whether they have a defibrillator and to arrange for suitable training of the school workforce in its use.