Written Assembly Questions tabled on 18 January 2017 for answer on 25 January 2017
R - Signifies the Member has declared an interest.
W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self-identifying question no. shown in brackets)
Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the number of primary and secondary schools in Wales, by local authority area, whose buildings still contain asbestos? (WAQ71889)
Answer received on 20 January 2017
Cabinet Secretary for Education (Kirsty Williams): Asbestos was used as a building material in most buildings until it was banned in 1999. As a result, asbestos can be found in a wide range of school buildings, including many constructed or refurbished before 1999.
The management of asbestos is a non-devolved matter, as Health and Safety legislation applies equally to both England and Wales. Responsibility for the management of asbestos lies with the duty holder; which in the school premises context can either be the local authority or the school governing body.
As such, the Welsh Government does not hold this information as it is local authorities or school governing bodies in Wales that have a legal responsibility to have up-to date records on the location and condition of asbestos containing material within their premises.
Darren Millar (Clwyd West): Will the Cabinet Secretary disclose the costs which local authorities have incurred, in each of the past five years, to remove asbestos from school buildings, and publish a list of schools for which there are plans for future asbestos removal? (WAQ71890)
Answer received on 20 January 2017
Kirsty Williams: Information in respect of costs incurred to remove asbestos is not held by the Welsh Government. However, our 21st Century Schools and Education Programme will see an investment of £1.4 billion over the five year period ending in 2019. This investment will pay for the rebuild and refurbishment of over 150 schools and colleges across Wales.
This Programme will tackle some of the poorest condition schools and works include the removal or treatment of asbestos in schools where appropriate, and will continue to do so.
The Programme is delivered in partnership with local authorities, and it is our partners that prioritise the projects that need to be delivered.
Local authorities also use funds contained in the Welsh Government's Revenue Support Grant to keep their schools buildings maintained and in a good state of repair.