HC Deb 04 April 2003 vol 402 cc911-2W
Mr. Burnett

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many inspections have been made of independent schools by the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last ten years; and of those inspections, how many of the schools(a) have subsequently had an asbestos survey carried out by an expert and (b) have followed HSE guidance on asbestos. [94381]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

Asbestos is one of a number of risks considered when a school is inspected. The number of independent schools which have been inspected, had asbestos surveys or followed HSE guidance on asbestos is not separately identified. However, the information that is available is as follows:

Number of inspections
LA controlled Schools Other Schools1
1995–96 197 116
1996–97 538 340
1997–98 542 271

Number of inspections
LA controlled Schools Other Schools1
1998–99 306 269
1999–2000 319 198
2000–2001 368 147
2001–2002 283 156
2002–20032 133 130
1 Other schools Volutary Aided. Foundation and Independent Schools
2 Provisional