Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 20 November (HL2884), whether they plan to collect, and publish annually, data on the number of deaths of (1) teachers, (2) students, and (3) others, who may have contracted mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases while in school buildings, in order to enable an evaluation of the effectiveness of their asbestos registry.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) collect data on asbestos-related deaths, which is published (attached) on their website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1617.pdf.

The data in respect of deaths by occupation is published routinely as part of the HSE’s annual National Statistics (attached) at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/mesothelioma/mortality-by-occupation-2002-2010.pdf.

The ‘Mesothelioma Register’ is managed by the HSE. It contains information extracted from death certificate information supplied by the Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

In addition, the department is committed to supporting schools, local councils and academy trusts to fulfil their duty to manage asbestos safely. The department has published refreshed guidance for schools to help them meet their duties on asbestos management (attached) at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-management-in-schools--2.

The department is enhancing scrutiny on duty holders for managing asbestos in their schools by asking all responsible bodies to provide assurance on their schools’ compliance with associated legislation and guidance.

In addition, we are looking at ways to improve our evidence base by working with HSE and other experts.

The department is continuing to fund the removal of asbestos, where appropriate, directly and indirectly through its funding programmes and is encouraging more academies to join the Risk Protection Arrangement, which requires schools to manage their asbestos related risks. I have placed a copy in the House Library and it is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academies-risk-protection-arrangement-rpa.