ROWEN QUIZZES MINISTER OVER ASBESTOS IN SCHOOLS

Rochdale MP and Liberal Democrat Health and Safety spokesman, Paul Rowen, has this met with School's Minister Diana Johnson MP to discuss the Government's current strategy regarding asbestos in schools.

Mr Rowen was accompanied to the meeting by Chris Weavers from the teaching union NASUWT, Rob Blackburn from ATaC, and Michael Lees, a dedicated campaigner whose wife contracted mesothelioma as a teacher and died in 2000.

Earlier this year Mr Rowen highlighted the problem of asbestos in schools after revealing around 75% of schools in Britain contained the potentially deadly substance. As a result, Mr Rowen had called on the government to carry out anonymous tests on dozens of schools and also sent out hundreds of Freedom of Information requests to local authorities in a bid to identify - and safely remove - the substance.

Diana Johnson MP has now agreed to look into forming a working party on the issue.

Paul Rowen MP said: "This meeting is the most recent step in our campaign to highlight and tackle the problem of asbestos in schools. The current system to control asbestos is failing our pupils and teachers, who are being exposed to the incurable disease of mesothelioma in later life. The meeting covered a wide range of issues such as the recent work that has been done on surveying asbestos levels in schools and the guidance and training that must be implemented to ensure that asbestos is dealt with correctly. I also made it clear that the Government must ensure that they moderate closely the management of asbestos in schools to ensure that up to date information is held, surveys are routinely carried out, and management plans are written and followed up. The meeting was very positive and I am confident that Diana Johnson and the Government are committed to working with us to tackle these problems."

Paul Rowen continued: "Most secondary schools in Rochdale will be helped with the problem of asbestos under the Building Schools for the Future Program. Schools such as Hollingworth Business and Enterprise College, which are being completely rebuilt, will have any asbestos material removed safely. Rochdale's secondary schools will also have a Type 2 Asbestos Surveys carried out to determine if and to what extent their buildings contain asbestos. However, my major concern is for primary schools both in Rochdale and throughout the country that will not be covered under the Building Schools for the Future Program. This is a major problem. The Government needs to make sure that there are people in place at the Department for Children, Schools and families who are sufficiently qualified to deal with this problem. This is something that the Minister accepted and agreed to look into.

Mr Rowen added: "Around 75% of schools in this country contain some form of asbestos, and we have seen many cases of teachers and pupils dying of the fatal disease mesothelioma. This issue is massively important. We need to work to make all schools are safe for the teachers, pupils and staff who work in them. I have called for another meeting with Diana Johnson MP January to review the situation again and see what work has been carried out."