Central Scotland MSP hits out at 'shocking' levels of asbestos in North Lanarkshire schools

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Lanarkshire politician has called on the SNP to address "shocking" levels of asbestos in schools across North Lanarkshire.In response to a Freedom of Information Request by the Scottish Conservatives, North Lanarkshire Council revealed that a total of 90 primary, secondary and additional support needs schools contain the substance.Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson slammed the SNP Government for "continuing to pass on savage cuts to local authorities, meaning schools in the region don’t have the resources to remove asbestos from their buildings".The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android But North Lanarkshire Council hit back at Mr Simpson's "wholly irresponsible" claims, highlighting that asbestos "is extremely common in any building constructed before the mid-1980s" and its "presence alone should not be a cause for concern".And a Scottish Government spokesperson flagged up that "school buildings across Scotland are in their best condition since recorded figures began".Mr Simpson said that parents will be “rightly concerned” about these findings and is seeking “urgent reassurances” from the new SNP education secretary Jenny Gilruth, herself a former teacher, that financial support will be provided to remedy this.He told Lanarkshire Live: "These findings fly in the face of education being the SNP’s