Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they give to state-maintained schools in England concerning the need to strip asbestos from school buildings.

The department takes the issue of asbestos in schools seriously, and is committed to supporting schools, local councils and academy trusts to fulfil their duty to manage asbestos safely.

The department’s advice to schools, local councils and academy trusts on management of asbestos is contained in the attached Asbestos Management in Schools guidance also published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-management-in-schools--2.

The guidance provides information on the action duty holders should take in order to prevent pupils and staff being exposed to asbestos. The guidance makes clear that the removal of asbestos should take place only if asbestos containing materials are in poor condition and advises on the risks of unsafe removal. This is in line with the Health and Safety Executive advice that as long as asbestos-containing materials are undamaged, encapsulated and not in locations where they are vulnerable to damage, they should be managed in situ. The guidance also advises on actions that duty holders must take where work is carried out on the premises which might disturb asbestos containing materials (including asbestos removal).