Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of capital funding for the removal of asbestos from the school estate in addition to the capital funding already allocated to the school rebuilding programme.

It is the responsibility of those who run schools - academy trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary aided school bodies - to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and to alert the Department if there is a serious concern with a building. It has always been the case that where the Department is made aware of a building that may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken.

The Department will spend whatever it takes to keep children safe. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with colleagues from HM Treasury on a range of issues.

The Department is investing in improving the condition of the school estate, with over £15 billion allocated since 2015, including £1.8 billion committed for 2023/24. This funding allocation is informed by consistent data on the condition of the estate. On top of this, the Department will transform 500 schools through its School Rebuilding Programme, prioritising buildings in the poorest condition and those with evidence of potential safety issues.

The Department takes the issue of asbestos in schools seriously, and is committed to supporting schools, Local Authorities and academy trusts to fulfil their duty to manage asbestos safely. The Department follows expert advice from the Health and Safety Executive; as long as asbestos containing materials are in good condition, well protected either by their position or physical protection, and are unlikely to be worked on, it is usually safer to manage them in place. Condition funding allocated to the sector can be used to remove asbestos when required. The Department provides additional support on a case by case basis, where there are serious issues with buildings that cannot be managed by responsible bodies independently.

The Department will always put the safety and wellbeing of children and staff in education settings at the heart of its policy decisions.