Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete across university campuses on teaching degree courses as students begin the new academic year.

The higher education sector is independent from government; it is therefore for individual providers to determine and address any estate issues.

While mindful of the sector’s independence, we have requested information on this issue from higher education (HE) providers and their representative bodies to gain a wider understanding of the situation and to provide advice. The department contacted Universities UK on 14 June 2023 to direct HE providers to relevant RAAC guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers and the departmental RAAC guidance for state-funded education buildings.

This was followed by a similar email to all the HE mission groups on 6 September. A third communication was sent to all the HE mission groups on 29 September, again referring HE providers to the Institution of Structural Engineers RAAC guidance and clarifying that the departmental RAAC guidance is to support those responsible for state funded education buildings.

The department is continuing to work with the sector to ensure that all HE providers have access to the right guidance and are taking action to ensure students are protected.