Maintenance backlog of crumbling schools and hospitals ‘costs at least £49bn’

The costs of a maintenance backlog across Government buildings is £49 billion, the National Audit Office has warned (Yui Mok/PA) - (PA Archive)

The backlog in maintaining crumbling schools, hospitals and prisons costs at least £49 billion but could be larger, a spending watchdog has said.

Ministers have also been warned by the head of the National Audit Office (NAO) that allowing the waiting list of repairs to Government buildings to linger is a “false economy” which could cost more in the long term.