Safety of School Buildings

Phillipson argued that a Labour Government would have acted swiftly to address the safety concerns, ensuring transparency with local authorities and schools. She pointed out discrepancies in how Wales has handled school funding compared to England under Conservative rule, highlighting increased capital funding in Wales during the same period. Phillipson also criticised current measures taken by the Department for Education as inadequate, noting delays in addressing RAAC risks despite early warnings.

Russell-Moyle supported Phillipson's argument, noting that under Labour governments, one in five schools were deemed inadequate and required rebuilding. He emphasised the need for a proactive approach to address crumbling school infrastructure.

Williams asked Phillipson if she agreed with the suggestion that the Secretary of State should provide more technical details to Welsh Governments, indicating concerns about inadequate information provided for devolved work on schools.

Cairns challenged Phillipson's allegations against the Secretary of State and Prime Minister, pointing out that similar responsibilities apply to Wales. He questioned why a list of at-risk schools had not been published for Wales, suggesting it was an example of failure in education.

Hillier supported Phillipson's argument, questioning the allocation of funds to free school sites instead of addressing collapsing schools, suggesting a misallocation of resources.

Baynes pointed out that Wales ordered surveys only in May 2023 compared to the UK Government's engagement with schools starting in 2022, suggesting a delay in addressing RAAC concerns.

Timms supported Phillipson's argument by highlighting the growing number of retired schoolteachers suffering from mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure and argued for faster action to remove asbestos from schools.

Ali supported Phillipson's argument, citing Jonathan Slater’s statement about civil servants warning of critical risks to life due to school building issues. She criticised the government for incompetence in addressing these risks.

Owen criticised Conservative Front Benchers for a lack of humility, noting that schools are crumbling under their rule and questioning why the Department of Education received refurbishments while school infrastructure remained neglected.

Called the Secretary of State and set a time limit of five minutes on Back-Bench speeches.

Commited to ensuring every child in the UK gets a first-class education and that children are safe and secure in their schools. Emphasised that the Government would spend whatever it takes to keep children safe, despite RAAC issues dating back to the 1950s. Criticised Labour for not knowing about school conditions when they were in power.

Asked the Secretary of State about the school repair backlog in Leeds, which is over £66 million, and mentioned that pleas from the lead councillor for education have been ignored since 2018.

Asked how the Secretary of State justifies the rejection of St Francis’ primary school’s bids to make its roof safe, and questioned the potentially higher costs that must now be paid from the public purse.

Requested to give way but specifics of his intervention are not provided in the text.

Thanked the Department for dispatching fast surveyors and confirmed that there is no RAAC in a school in his constituency. Inquired about structural engineers being available to do this work.

Complained about delays in the Department responding to survey results from her constituency and raised concerns about children being out of school as a precautionary measure. Inquired how many other schools are in this position.

Asked if the Secretary of State is confident that structural engineers and surveyors will be available to do this work and inquired about sticking to the timetable of having answers by the end of next week.

Questioned whether there are any areas within schools open to pupils where there is a known immediate risk of collapse, based on previous responses from the Schools Minister.

The speaker acknowledges the urgent concern regarding school safety, expressing gratitude to the Opposition for initiating the debate. He raises specific concerns about late announcements and their timing, advocating for a more detailed timeline of risk assessment changes and decision-making processes. Additionally, he highlights the need for minimal disruption in affected schools, welcoming steps taken by the Secretary of State and urging extra support for smaller or isolated schools.

The speaker intervenes to question a previous statement made by another MP regarding Labour's motion on school buildings, aiming to clarify concerns about public building construction materials and their longevity.

Blake criticises the Government's handling of RAAC in schools, questioning why the risk has not been taken seriously enough since 2018. She highlights a lack of confidence in the inspection process and raises concerns about asbestos potentially interfering with surveys. Blake also discusses her constituent Carla’s serious injury after a piece of board flew off her child’s school. She points out that data from the Government shows 27 schools in Sheffield had at least one grade C construction type, and 14 were found to have at least one grade D construction type between 2017 and 2019. Blake emphasises the need for all schools to be inspected and asks why not all RAAC is considered dangerous. She also questions if the Department will reimburse schools for litigation costs.

Critiques Labour's motion as retrospective blame allocation, highlights systemic failure in building safety management that has existed for decades. Emphasises the need for an independent investigation body similar to those found in aviation or marine sectors.

Blames the Government for neglecting public services and criticises their handling of the RAAC schools crisis. Points out that more than 100 schools have already closed due to unsafe concrete, with up to 1,000 potentially affected. Demands a binding vote on what was known about risks before cutting school rebuilding programme.

The Member criticised the Government's handling of RAAC, stating that critical RAAC was identified at St James Catholic Primary School in her constituency but no immediate action was taken. She highlighted decades of funding cuts from public services leading to unsafe buildings and crumbling hospitals and courts. Kate Osborne emphasised the failure of staff support and the worsening cost-of-living crisis under Tory rule, demanding the Government accept responsibility for the mess they have caused.

She highlights improvements in her constituency including new primary schools and significant funding for overhauls of existing ones. She also calls for transparency and a clear timeline from the Secretary of State regarding schools affected by RAAC issues.

Western criticises the Conservative Government's decision to slash the number of schools to be rebuilt, leaving classrooms unsafe. He describes the situation as a failure on education policy with countless schools now in limbo due to suspected issues with RAAC. He calls for transparency and demands that documents showing what the Prime Minister knew about risks posed by RAAC before he cut school rebuilding programmes should be released.

Pays tribute to Wood Green Academy and its headteacher for managing the RAAC situation. Criticises Labour's PFI programme and calls for transparency in decision-making processes regarding school safety. Highlights increased funding in his constituency and questions the narrative of slashed budgets.

Supports the motion and corrects Shaun Bailey on the origins of PFI, stating it was initiated by the Conservative Major Government. Expresses concern over the safety and preparedness of schools in light of recent RAAC findings.

No extracted contribution text available for this contributor yet.

Compliments the Government's response to the RAAC situation, highlighting improvements in school standards under Conservative leadership. Criticises Labour for hypocrisy regarding transparency demands. Stresses that affected schools have been identified through long-term survey work and praises local council efforts.

I thank those on the Opposition Front Bench for selecting this urgent issue today. My constituents want Ministers to know exactly what they had to go through when St Leonard’s Catholic School in my constituency was ordered to close last Friday. They are concerned by the effect that this situation may have on GCSE results, especially given the existing grade attainment gap between the north-east and the rest of the country. Parents and children alike are extremely concerned about the impact on those with special educational needs and those on free school meals. I am mainly thinking of those parents whose children require additional support in vulnerable backgrounds for whom school is a safe haven.

I strongly support the measures that the Secretary of State has taken to address the issue of RAAC in schools throughout England. The Government have acted quickly to issue guidance, will ensure funding so teachers can focus on getting students back to school safely, and are minimising disruption to face-to-face teaching. In contrast, the Opposition are playing politics and refusing to take responsibility for their failings in addressing issues with RAAC over past decades. I note that no Welsh MPs have taken part in the debate or been present on the Opposition Benches this afternoon, criticising Labour's approach to RAAC showing a lack of responsibility.

Welcomes the report that RAAC has not been found in Salford's schools but criticises the government for failing to provide timely information about RAAC. Stresses that the crisis extends beyond schools, affecting public buildings and potentially residential properties, especially social housing. Raises concerns over structurally unsound RAAC present in at least 41 hospitals. Criticises the lack of action from the government despite clear evidence of a national building safety crisis. Emphasises that austerity measures have worsened the situation by cutting funding for school construction and renovation programmes. Cites statistics showing the decline in capital spending on education, NHS, and local authorities since 2010. Points out that the National Audit Office has warned about major costs arising from deterioration of public infrastructure.

Defends the government's response to the RAAC crisis as proactive and precautionary. Criticises Labour for their failure to address similar issues when in power, pointing out examples such as financial difficulties in Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent. Condemns Labour's reluctance to publish a comprehensive list of affected schools and criticises them for potentially exacerbating public fear through media sensationalism. Emphasises the proactive actions taken by some schools in England compared to the lack of action in Wales under Labour governance. Highlights government achievements including record funding, increased teacher numbers, improved university access for disadvantaged students, and success in phonics teaching. Defends the Building Schools for the Future programme as costly and slow.

It is a privilege to contribute, but I am disappointed by the debate's tone. Labour Members' selective interpretation and opportunism are highlighted, noting their 26-year rule in Wales with no clear building state knowledge. The Welsh Administration's failure to provide clarity on school safety is criticised. England has seen improvements while Wales lags behind. Alun Cairns asks if Labour MPs will support a similar motion in the Senedd.

James Wild discusses RAAC issues, focusing on hospitals like Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn and notes that no school issues have been reported in his constituency. He welcomes increased spending for maintenance and the Chancellor's commitment to address these issues. The Department for Education is working closely with affected schools, ensuring they remain safe spaces for learning.

Britcliffe argued that the issue of RAAC is not new and criticised Labour for ignoring warnings about the dangers of RAAC in the past. She pointed out that the Department for Education published guidance on RAAC in 2018.

Wilson criticised the Conservative Government's response to the RAAC issue, arguing it lacked empathy and leadership. She highlighted that years of underinvestment have led to this crisis and emphasised the importance of addressing the backlog in school repairs.

No extracted contribution text available for this contributor yet.

This debate is incredibly important, as it gets to the heart of the responsibility that we all share to the next generation—a responsibility to give every child the best start in life, and the opportunity to thrive at school and throughout their life, and, above all, a responsibility to keep children safe. The Government are not just failing in that fundamental responsibility; worse, they are hiding—from reality, from scrutiny and from the consequences of their decisions over 13 long years. Those consequences mean that this week, children cannot go to school because their buildings are unsafe. And still the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister—and, I have to say, hon. Members on the Government Benches—are desperately trying to pass the buck... Unlike the Conservative Government in England, the Welsh Government are investing in rebuilding schools, which is why they face a different situation from the one we face. Today we are looking at history and for transparency, not for a geography lesson...

Welcomed the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North to her new post, highlighted that professional advice from technical experts on RAAC has evolved over time, and stressed the importance of following guidance issued by the Department for Education regarding RAAC. Emphasised that since 2010, billions of pounds have been invested in school capital, creating over a million more school places and opening hundreds of new free schools. Stressed that only this Government has conducted surveys of the whole school estate to target capital spending on rebuilding schools in the worst condition. Reiterated that the government will spend what it takes to keep children safe, including paying for emergency mitigation work needed to make buildings safe. Defended the decision made by the Secretary of State as a zero-risk approach to safety.

Mentioned St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham, which was one of the schools that needed to move to remote education due to RAAC issues. Raised concerns about the impact on students and staff.

Complained about schools closing because of RAAC, but was informed by Nick Gibb that only four out of 156 listed schools have actually closed. Raised concerns over the impact on students and staff.

Raised the issue of asbestos in schools, stating that all schools have an asbestos register and that asbestos will be removed if needed for RAAC mitigation works. Criticised the government's handling of RAAC issues.

Joined in raising concerns about asbestos in schools, reiterating that all schools have an asbestos register and that asbestos will be removed if needed for RAAC mitigation works. Criticised the government's handling of RAAC issues.

Challenged the Opposition to say whether they think the Secretary of State has taken the right decision on RAAC, questioning why the Opposition could not answer this question. Raised concerns about how RAAC was allowed to be used in schools.

Expressed frustration and concern regarding RAAC issues but noted that none of the 156 listed schools on the list published by the government are in his constituency or Liverpool. Criticised the government's handling of RAAC issues.

Raised concerns about costs associated with mitigating RAAC, stating that all capital costs and subject to need revenue costs will be covered by the DfE. Emphasised the importance of swift action in addressing safety issues.

Quoted Philip Collins’s article in The Times, highlighting how standards have risen in schools due to Conservative policies on curriculum and phonics since 2010. Emphasised the importance of school buildings being safe.

Criticised PFI arrangements under Labour’s Building Schools for the Future programme, stating that these are problems we are paying for today. Highlighted the swift action taken by this Government in addressing RAAC issues.

Stressed that the Secretary of State has taken the right decision regarding safety concerns related to RAAC, emphasising the importance of a zero-risk approach.

Agreed with Ben Bradley's statement, stressing the importance of ensuring school buildings are safe and free from risk.

Contrasted the swift action taken by this Government regarding RAAC issues with the approach taken by Wales. Highlighted the importance of proactive measures in addressing safety concerns.

Joined Simon Baynes in contrasting the actions of the UK government versus those of Wales, highlighting the swift and comprehensive approach taken by the UK government regarding RAAC issues.

Raised concerns about RAAC in NHS buildings, highlighting the importance of ensuring all public buildings are safe from this risk. Emphasised the need for swift and proactive measures to address these issues.

Spoke about Kingsdown School and its issues with RAAC, raising three specific points regarding the school's situation and emphasising the importance of ensuring schools are safe for students and staff.