Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding his Department has allocated for the removal of asbestos from schools in South Yorkshire in the last 12 months.

The Department takes the safety of pupils, staff and visitors to schools very seriously. The decision to remove asbestos from schools is made on a case by case basis.

Expert advice from the Health and Safety Executive is clear that, as long as asbestos-containing materials are undamaged, and not in locations where they are vulnerable to damage, they are best managed in situ. The Department is clear that when asbestos cannot be effectively managed in situ, it should be removed or encapsulated. The Department provides significant condition funding which can be used for this purpose.

Since 2015, the Department has allocated £6 billion to those responsible for maintaining and improving the condition of school buildings, including removing or encapsulating asbestos when it is the safest course of action to do so. This funding is delivered through different routes depending on their size and type.

Local authorities and larger multi academy trusts receive a School Condition Allocation and it is for them to prioritise investment across the schools for which they are responsible. Smaller, or stand-alone academy trusts and sixth form colleges have access to the Condition Improvement Fund. In addition, the Priority School Building Programme is rebuilding or refurbishing school buildings in the worst condition across England, covering over 500 schools. Asbestos was a factor when selecting buildings for the programme.