Spencers Calls for Extension of Nationwide School Survey to Include Asbestos in Schools

Spencers Solicitors, in advance of a House of Commons Education Select Committee evidence session tomorrow (Wednesday 13 March 2013) on Asbestos in Schools, is urging the Government to take action to address the long ignored problem of asbestos in our schools.
Spencers is calling for the current nationwide survey into the state of England's schools (the DfE's Property Data Survey Programme) to be extended to identify the scale of the problem of asbestos in our 23,000 educational premises and then to prioritise those schools that most need action.
Asbestos in schools is a vitally important and complex issue, but it has been neglected by successive governments, resulting in the deaths of teachers and other education workers every year. It is time for the DfE to stop delegating responsibility to individual local authorities and schools and for it to oversee the development of a nationwide programme to protect teachers and children from the dangers of asbestos.
John Spencer, Director of Spencers Solicitors, said:
"It is deeply shocking that 16 teachers died from mesothelioma in England in 2011 alone1. If a teacher was killed every month in the classroom from violence there would be public outrage and urgent calls for action, but because it is asbestos-related it is largely ignored.
"It is a complete waste of an opportunity that the Department for Education is currently running a nationwide survey to consider the physical state of England's schools, and yet asbestos is specifically not included.
"In an ideal world we would do all we can to totally eradicate asbestos from our schools once and for all, but in reality we must prioritise funding towards those schools where teachers and our children are most at risk. We can only prioritise action and expenditure if the scale of the problem is fully understood."
1 House of Lords Parliamentary Answer, 6 February 2013, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201213/ldhansrd/text/130206w0001.htm#13020694000372
Specifically, Spencers has called for:

• The DfE's Property Data Survey Programme to be extended urgently to include asbestos in schools.
• There must be openness and transparency about the scale of the problem.
• There is no single body responsible for the issues of asbestos in schools - this is resulting in a piecemeal approach to the problem with no national picture of the problem existing.
• Regular school inspections and a comprehensive database available publically online of findings should be made available and there should be the phased removal of asbestos.
• Future Schools Capital Allocations must include provision for the removal of asbestos from the schools most at risk.

Notes to editors:
Responsibility for managing the risks from asbestos containing materials comes under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 which determines that local authorities and individual schools have responsibility for the management of schools. Not having a significant central role, other than providing guidance on asbestos management, the Department for Education does not collect information on the presence and condition of asbestos in schools.
Spencers Solicitors (www.spencerssolicitors.com) is one of the UK's leading firms of personal injury claim solicitors. Based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Spencers is committed to protecting its clients' best interests by putting duty before profit, and campaigning for justice for those affected by negligence and statutory breach, and for the improvement of professional standards and business practices within the personal injury system.

Spencers Solicitors
Millennium Way
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Derbyshire
S41 8ND

Spencers Solicitors
John Spencer
01256 337999
john.spencer@SpencersSolicitors.com
www.spencerssolicitors.com

Madano Partnership
Tim Carr
020 7593 4000
tim.carr@madano.com

More information you can also find on website: Asbestos Litigation

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Spencers Calls for Extension of Nationwide School Survey to Include Asbestos in Schools

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The Rugby Football Union (RFU) today announced Prince Harry as Patron of All Schools, and revealed Canterbury as the inaugural Official Partner for its programme to get more secondary state schools playing rugby union.

The RFU firmly believes that rugby union is a game for All Schools - all schools and all young people in the school can play, and rugby can have a positive impact on all of the school. Currently around 1,500 state secondary schools play rugby union. As Patron, Prince Harry will support the RFU in its ambition for 750 more to be self-sufficient rugby playing schools by the Rugby World Cup 2019, and to encourage new players to join local clubs.

This will be achieved by delivering a package of resource within the school, linked to the local club that helps it to start and sustain playing rugby union, including kit and equipment, as well as coaching and young leaders training.

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A St. James's Palace spokesperson, commented: "This patronage will allow Prince Harry to combine his passion for rugby with his work to help children and young people in society to build their skills, confidence and aspirations. Prince Harry recognises that rugby can play an important role in helping to achieve this."

Ian Ritchie, Chief Executive of the RFU, said: "We are delighted that Prince Harry and Canterbury have pledged their support for All Schools. It's an extremely important initiative for the RFU, and is already having a significant impact up and down the country. We know that both Prince Harry and the team at Canterbury share our aims to encourage more young people to play rugby and I look forward to us growing the game together."

Commenting on the announcement of Canterbury as Official Partner, CEO Chris Stephenson, said: "The RFU's All Schools is a fantastic programme which we are proud to support. The Canterbury kit design workshops present pupils with the unique opportunity to design their school kit, which they will later wear in action and with extra pride on the rugby pitch. The workshops offered a stimulating educational experience for those who may have little understanding of the traditional values of rugby and it was great to see the outcomes from all taking part."

All Schools forms one of the seven areas identified by the RFU to deliver the greatest participation legacy for the game in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and beyond. Secondary state schools have been selected in small clusters, allowing them to play rugby against each other locally. The RFU plans to take a school that is new to or has only just started to play rugby union, and turn it into a self-sufficient rugby playing school by the end of the three years providing a pipeline of players to the local rugby club.

A keen sportsman and rugby fan, Prince Harry is also Vice Patron of the RFU and Patron of the RFU Injured Players Foundation.

About Canterbury

Over 100 years ago, three men began making woolen garments in a small town on the South Island of New Zealand. John Lane, Pringle Walker and Alfred Rudkin were English natives who emigrated to Canterbury and named their new company after the local area. This was a brand rooted in the New Zealand soil. Like the Kiwi landscape itself, it was rugged and uncompromising.

Canterbury of New Zealand have made innovative rugby and sports clothing ever since.

Website: http://www.canterbury.com

Contact Information: Jamie zealand
Canterbury
PR
BIG Studios, 1 East Poultry Avenue
London, London
UK EC1A 9PT
Voice: 0845 868 7775
http://www.canterbury.com

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