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Call to remove asbestos from all schools

Legislation Health
The Government is being pressured to do more to protect children and teaching staff from exposure to asbestos in schools.

It follows the release of new figures that show councils in England have paid out at least £10m in compensation to current and former school staff and ex-pupils who have developed illnesses because of asbestos in school buildings.

The figures have been obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to all local authorities in England and Wales, of which 135 responded. The FOI was submitted by Lucie Stephens, whose mother Sue, a reception teacher, died of mesothelioma - a type of cancer usually caused by asbestos exposure - this year.

Ms Stephens has also started a petition to fulfil her mother’s legacy of wanting asbestos removed from all schools.

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