Asbestos in Schools Motion

This House Recognises:

(1) Figures show that as of 2021, at least 3,000 schools in the UK had asbestos-containing materials.

(2) Based on a 2019 survey, the number of schools with at least one building with asbestos is potentually 87%.

(3) It is know for certain that asbestos is contained in more than 75% of the 33,600 schools in Britain.

(4) Exposure to asbestos fibres and dust can cause serious health conditions, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.

(5) That 140 teachers have died of mesothelioma in the last 10 years.

(6) The current practice focuses on managing asbestos rather than removing it.

(7) It is the duty of councils to monitor asbestos in schools and keep track of it.

(8) This is an issue deeply affecting Tiverton High School.

This House Therefore Urges:

(1) The Government to update guidelines to have councils safely remove or manage asbestos in schools.

(2) The Government to update guidelines to have councils produce an annual report of the number of schools with asbestos within their local area.

(3) The Government to provide financial support to councils for the removal or management of asbestos.

This Motion was written by The Rt Hon Marquess of Stevenage, u/Muffin5136, KT KP KD KCMG KBE CVO CT PC on behalf of the Muffin Raving Loony Party and is sponsored by the Labour Party

Deputy Speaker,

I was having a chat with the former Home Secretary and current MP for London (List) about the state of Tiverton High School with its asbestos problem, and it reminded me of a motion I submitted to the Senedd in another life and decided to submit it here to get the Westminster Government at the same level as the Welsh Government in terms of support for schools with asbestos.

This division ends on the 7th at 10PM