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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National

Labour must get asbestos out of schools urgently

Former Manor High School buildings in Wednesbury, West Midlands, closed due to asbestos contamination and since demolished.
Manor High School buildings in Wednesbury, West Midlands, which were closed due to asbestos contamination and later demolished in 2018. Photograph: Malcolm Brice/Alamy

The Guardian’s investigation of underinvestment in public buildings vividly shows its detrimental impact (Revealed: 1.5m children in England studying in unfit school buildings, 27 December). It is therefore heartening that a government spokesperson has stated that “immediate action to remedy the state of disrepair” would be taken.

However, UK building condition surveys and asbestos regulations do not include a measure of the risk of staff and children developing incurable mesothelioma cancer from long-term asbestos exposure in buildings like schools.

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