Building Repairs: VAT

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff Excerpts
Thursday 14th December 2023

(5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Swire Portrait Lord Swire (Con)
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My Lords—

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff Portrait Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (CB)
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My Lords, have the Government undertaken a cost assessment of the number of schools that have asbestos in them and that are also affected by RAAC? They need replacing, because the children in these schools are currently at risk of exposure to asbestos fibres, and the same applies to many hospital buildings. Has there been a comparison of the costs of renovation versus replacement for these public buildings?

Baroness Penn Portrait Baroness Penn (Con)
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Both the Department of Health and the Department for Education are taking forward very careful programmes to address the issue of RAAC. As part of that, I am sure they will consider the most cost-effective way of addressing those issues. My noble friend Lady Barran is working very closely on the schools issue, to ensure that all schools affected by RAAC have it removed or remediated as soon as possible.