MINISTER for Community Safety and Legal Affairs Roseanna Cunningham today announced she is amending fire safety regulations to clarify the law for childminders.
Following a public consultation on the definition of ‘relevant premises’ contained in the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, it was clear businesses within the childminding sector preferred that it was made clearer that their premises needed to comply with the fire safety aspects of the Act.
Ms Cunningham will now amend the regulations in the Act to confirm that fire safety obligations apply to childminders’ premises.
Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, said:“It is vital that every business in Scotland is aware of its obligations towards fire safety. I take the views of stakeholders very seriously, which is why this issue was consulted upon when concern was expressed from within the care sector about how the law applied to them.
“The changes I am making to regulations within the Act remove any doubt that fire safety obligations apply to childminders’ premises. I am pleased that we have been able to clarify this important piece of legislation. I will take the necessary steps to amend the legislation shortly after the parliamentary summer recess.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Childminding Association said:“We welcome the steps that have been taken by the Scottish Government, firstly to listen to views of our members through the consultation process and then to take action.
“This change allows childminders across Scotland to be absolutely sure of how the law affects them and what they need to do to fulfil their legal obligations in keeping children in their care safe from fire.”
