Jeremy Hunt says government will "spend what it takes" to make schools safe from crumbling concrete

The Chancellor today pledged that the government will "spend what it takes" to make schools safe after classrooms were forced to close just before the new term amid concerns about dangerous crumbling concrete.

More than 150 schools across England have been told by Whitehall they need to shut facilities or put safety measures in place due to fears over reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). The MEN has confirmed that schools in Bolton Trafford, and Manchester have been affected by the crisis.

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said today that an “exhaustive process” has been carried out to identify any unsafe buildings, amid accusations ministers failed to act quickly enough to mitigate risks raised in 2018. But he admitted that along with the potential danger of RAAC, the problem of asbestos in schools is also being considered.

He said Education Secretary Gillian Keegan had “acted immediately” after new information came to light over the summer about the potential risk of RAAC, a lightweight material used up to the mid-1990s.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, Mr Hunt would not speculate on the potential cost of fixing the problem, but said: “We will spend what it takes to make sure children can go to school safely, yes.”

Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza welcomed the funding pledge but said “we shouldn’t even have been in this situation”. She told the same programme: “There should have been planning in place and a really good school building programme that has addressed this over the years.

“Is it really the least to ask to say that we want safe, fit-for-purpose buildings? There’s not enough money in there and it’s not moving quick enough.”

In Greater Manchester "mitigating measures" are