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<p>Safe and well-maintained school buildings are a priority for the department. The
department has allocated over £15 billion to improve the condition of schools since
2015, including £1.8 billion this financial year. This funding is informed by consistent
data on the condition of the estate.</p><p>The department expects responsible bodies,
including local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts, to have robust plans
in place to manage any asbestos in school buildings effectively in line with their
legal duties.</p><p>The department follows advice from the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE), which states that, as long as asbestos is in good condition, not vulnerable
to damage and carefully managed, it is usually safer to manage it in situ. The department
is committed to working collaboratively with HSE, as the regulator, to support schools
and duty holders.</p><p>The department has not made an assessment of how many schools
have incurred a financial cost to manage asbestos. Asbestos is managed by responsible
bodies and schools at a local level, including determining how management is funded.
The department supports them by providing guidance on the safe management of asbestos
and providing access to capital funding each year. Schools are either eligible for
School Condition Allocation funding to prioritise improving the condition of their
schools, or they are able to bid into the Condition Improvement Fund annual bidding
round, to apply for funding for specific capital projects. All schools also receive
funding to spend on their capital priorities or to contribute to larger projects through
an annual Devolved Formula Capital allocation. Condition funding can be used to remove
asbestos when required, often as part of a wider condition project.</p><p>Where responsible
bodies have serious issues with buildings that cannot be managed locally, the department
provides additional support on a case-by-case basis.</p>
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