In a letter published by the Guardian on 2 January, Dr Gill Read, a former technical adviser from the Joint Union Asbestos Committee, has proclaimed that due to asbestos exposure the UK has the highest percentage of mesothelioma cases worldwide. He also wrote that the Guardian’s investigation into underinvestment in public buildings has revealed its harmful effects and that as many as 1.5m children in England are studying in unfit school buildings (read more here).
However, he added that it was “heartening” that a government spokesperson has stated that “immediate action to remedy the state of disrepair” should be taken.
He highlighted that UK building condition surveys and asbestos regulations fail to assess the risk of staff and children developing incurable mesothelioma cancer due to long-term asbestos exposure in public buildings.
“The UK now has the highest incidence of mesothelioma in the world, and the evidence indicates that hundreds of thousands of children and staff may die from it in future because they were exposed to asbestos in their former schools.”
“The government should take immediate action to develop asbestos regulations and funding for the identification and remediation, as necessary, of all schools with unsafe asbestos levels. Our children deserve no less.”
Doctor Reed’s investigation’s findings were published last year by the National Education Union and can be read here.
The Guardian summarised Reed’s claims with the opinion of Ed Campbell, who attributed the inevitable deterioration of most public buildings to underfunding. “Twenty years ago, I was responsible for the preparation of both the school organisation plan and the asset management plan for a local education authority (LEA) of about 10 secondary schools and 60 primary, special and nursery schools.”
Campbell determined that £10m should be allocated annually for the planned replacement of the school stock over a rolling 60-year period. This includes £4.5m for capitalised planned maintenance, £3m for curriculum developments that require updates and modernisation, and £2.5m for “unpredictables” (for example, unforeseen expenses, such as health and safety legislation, removal of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, asbestos and disabled access).
Campbell also explained that, since the 1970s, the annual government cap on borrowing for school investment in his LEA has never surpassed £2m. This limitation has meant that deterioration of these buildings is not only likely but inevitable.
Ultimately, one-off approvals for new schools aren’t adequate to deal with the surmounting issues. Inadequate private finance initiative credits have left the LEA with an annual deficit of £5m, making it more difficult than ever to pay the concessionaires.
“Belated recognition of the problem is welcome. Perhaps the time is now ripe to bite the bullet on the bizarre public sector borrowing requirement rules.”
Source: Labour must get asbestos out of schools urgently
You can read some of our previous articles on this topic here:
Mum with Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis Fights for Awareness
Urgent Call for Simple Change in Law Regarding Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer
Promising Research Project into the Diagnosis and Treatment of Mesothelioma
Compensation for Asbestos Exposure
We at Asbestos Awareness are dedicated to sharing vital information and highlighting the consequences of asbestos exposure. After being exposed to asbestos, a person can be at considerable risk of contracting an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. If you have been informed that you are suffering from such a disease, it is crucial to seek out the necessary legal advice to ensure you receive the compensation you are rightfully owed.
Our site is owned and managed by Bridge McFarland, a UK-based law firm with a leading personal injury department dedicated to supporting clients in claiming compensation owed as a result of an asbestos-related disease diagnosis.
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