Central Scotland MSP, Graham Simpson, has raised concerns about the number of schools in Lanarkshire which still have banned combustible cladding.
Mr Simpson’s call comes after research by the Scottish Conservatives revealed that 40 schools in the region have combustible cladding – which was outlawed as a result of the Grenfell fire tragedy.
The figures, obtained via a series of freedom of information requests, comprise of 33 primary schools, 5 secondary schools and 2 special schools. A hospital and community Health Centre also feature on the list.
Across Scotland, 108 Scottish council and health-board owned buildings still have flammable cladding of the same or similar type to that of Grenfell Tower, more than five years after a tragic blaze in the high-rise building killed 72 people.
The Scottish Government has received £97million in UK Government Barnett consequentials for the remediation of buildings constructed with high-risk cladding, with an expected further £300million on the way.
However, as of March of this year, only around £240,000 had been spent.
Mr Simpson has called for more ‘urgency’ from the SNP Government to complete remedial work and ensure all publicly-owned buildings in Lanarkshire reach the new standards of building safety.
Central Scotland MSP, Graham Simpson said: “Residents in Lanarkshire will be deeply alarmed and angry to see how many public buildings remain covered in high-risk cladding.
“While the SNP dither and delay, hundreds of schoolchildren across the region are being taught in unsafe, combustible buildings.
“Despite being given significant funding from the UK Government, the Nationalists have been pitifully slow to make use of it, spending only a fraction of the £100million they have been given so far.
“The SNP have a duty to ensure publicly-owned buildings in Lanarkshire reach safety standards, and right now they are failing in this duty.
“It’s high time the SNP-Green Government treated this issue with the urgency it deserves – and took immediate action to rid Scotland’s schools and hospitals of this dangerous hazard.”
