P-04-522 Asbestos in Schools -

Correspondence from Petitioner to Committee, 05.03.18

Annwyl Graham

Thank you again for your email. Further to my previous correspondence I have become aware of a significant development from the DfE yesterday that should be drawn to the attention of the Committee and indeed to the Cabinet Secretary (although she may be aware of this from her official who attends the DfE steering group meeting).

I am quoting from one of my JUAC colleagues.

“The DfE has now launched  its Asbestos Management Assurance Process (AMAP), which requires ‘Responsible Bodies’, via an online portal,  to provide an electronic declaration that their schools are compliant with legislation on the management of asbestos in their education estate.  ‘Responsible Bodies’ are the main employer of staff at maintained schools and academies (academy trusts, LAs and in some cases governing bodies).  Although  it is not described as compulsory, Responsible Bodies are ‘expected’ to comply and the DfE has stated that it intends to publish data which shows which Responsible Bodies have provided assurance declarations. The AMAP will not apply to non-maintained nursery schools or early years providers, FE and HE institutions, sixth form colleges and independent schools.

Although it is the duty of each Responsible Body to ensure that the form is submitted on behalf of all its schools, it can ask individual schools to provide it with the relevant information.  However, the Responsible Body remains ultimately responsible for validating and ensuring the accuracy of information submitted by individual schools, and for providing the overall assurance declaration to the DfE.

The AMAP will be open for 3 months (the deadline for submitting assurances is 31 May 2018).  During this time the DfE will remind Responsible Bodies of the expectation that responses are submitted.”

The DfE user guide is here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-management-assurance-process-amap-user-guide The AMAP online portal is at https://onlinecollections.des.fasst.org.uk/onlinecollections_ns/

You will note that it is stated on the introductory page.

“The AMAP meets the department’s commitments set out in the March 2015 review of Asbestos Management in Schools, enhancing scrutiny on those responsible for managing asbestos in schools.

You are expected to complete the AMAP if you are a Responsible Body.

· Responsible Body: the main employer of staff at State-Funded Schools and Academies.

· State-Funded Schools and Academies: maintained nursery schools, maintained schools (including primary, secondary and middle schools), maintained special schools and academy special schools, pupil referral units, academies and free schools and non-maintained special schools.

This guidance is for anyone who is responsible for the management of asbestos in the education estate and compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.”

Seemingly the DfE is providing an online solution for data collection which thus far Welsh Government has been reluctant to embrace.

I am also pleased to advise following further correspondence with the official from the 21st Century Schools and Education Programme Team that I have been advised that the guidance documents for the consultation are being finalised with a view to being sent to key stakeholders as soon as possible. Also my additional recipient suggestions (as referred to in my previous email) have been added to their distribution list.

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