Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many court buildings in England and Wales reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete has been identified.

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) has been identified in 10 court buildings out of 329 operational court and tribunal buildings.

Five are deemed safe and remain fully operational, three have temporarily closed whilst work is taking place to remove RAAC. Two sites in Blackpool, will not reopen and their work has been relocated to other sites in Lancashire until the new court centre in Blackpool opens in 2026.

The safety of staff, judiciary and court users is our top priority, and we will continue to regularly monitor and survey our estate and take action where necessary based on professional advice.