Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many incidents of asbestos released in schools were reported to his Department in each year between September 2011 and September 2017; how many school staff and pupils have been exposed in such incidents; and what action was taken by the Heath and Safety Executive in relation to those incidents.

The safety of children is paramount. The Department has taken significant steps in recent years to strengthen schools’ approach to managing asbestos. Since 2015, £5.6 billion has been invested to improve and maintain school buildings, including removing or encapsulating asbestos where appropriate. In addition, the £4.4 billion Priority School Building Program is rebuilding or refurbishing those school buildings in the very worst condition.

The Department does not hold data on the areas requested. If an incident of this nature is brought to the Department’s attention the person raising the incident would be redirected to the appropriate responsible body and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE has confirmed that the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 require incidents be reported to them, where a work activity causes the accidental release or escape of asbestos fibres into the air in a quantity sufficient to cause damage to the health of any person.

Incidents reported to the HSE are selected for investigation in accordance with incident selection criteria: http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/incidselcrits.pdf. HSE enquiries seek to ensure action is taken to control any immediate risk and that all relevant duty holders ensure effective controls are in place to reduce the likelihood of further similar failings. Enforcement action in respect of any compliance shortfalls is taken in accordance with the HSE’s published Enforcement Policy Statement: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse41.pdf.