Responding to the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) crisis, where crumbling concrete has resulted in the full or partial closure of 104 schools, the co-leader of the Green Party Carla Denyer said:
“Our education system has been left crumbling after 13 years of Tory austerity. But successive governments have known about the problems with RAAC going all the way back to the 1980s.
“Our schools are not fit for purpose. This was revealed during the pandemic when failures to properly ventilate our schools became apparent. We've also seen portacabins in place semi permanently in many schools. And now this dodgy concrete crisis.
“As chancellor, Rishi Sunak decided to axe investment in new schools from 100 to 50. That was despite a Department for Education survey that revealed the need to rebuild 300 to 400 schools.
“At the very least, the prime minister should reverse the decision he made as chancellor to halve the rebuilding programme. Beyond that we need proper investment in our schools’ infrastructure to bring buildings up to a standard fit for the 21st century.”
Notes