Labour must get asbestos out of schools urgently | Letters

Dr Gill Reed says the UK has the highest incidence of mesothelioma in the world due to asbestos exposure, while Ed Campbell says underfunding made buildings’ deterioration inevitable. Plus a letter from Colin PorteousThe 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. Continue reading...