‘Medway’s MPs vote, not concrete enough’ – say Medway Lib Dems
Medway's MPs vote for ‘concrete cover-up’ to hide list of schools and hospitals in state of disrepair' -say local Lib Dems
Medway's MPs are being accused of a ‘concrete cover-up’ after they voted against a Liberal Democrat amendment to force the Government to publish a register of schools and hospitals that are not fit for purpose.
The Lib Dem amendment to the Levelling Up Bill would have forced the Government to publish a full register of schools and hospitals in Medway and across the country that are in a state of serious disrepair, including schools and hospitals affected by aero-concrete (RAAC) and asbestos. This list would have to be published within one month of the bill passing and regularly updated every three-months.
In August, the Government found themselves engulfed in a RAAC crisis which forced schools to close days before returning from their summer break. Despite this, 301 Conservative MPs including all three of Medway's MPs voted last week (Tuesday 17 October) to cover-up the full list of schools and hospitals that could follow suit and hide important information about the state of public buildings. Following Rishi Sunak blocking plans to rebuild hospitals that were falling apart and rejecting pleas by Department of Education officials for more school building funds during his tenure as Chancellor.
Stuart Bourne, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Medway, said: “It’s shameful that our town's MPs and this Conservative Government has once again chosen to cover-up information from their constituents rather than be transparent. Their refusal to be honest and their continued efforts to hide this information is shocking; In Medway, we have a right to know if our schools and hospitals are liable to collapse or filled with toxic asbestos.
If our MP's won’t fight for adequate funding to repair our schools and hospitals, the least they can do is tell constituents which buildings are affected. This is just another example of this Conservative Government taking people in Medway for granted and playing them for fools.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor: A full list of MPs and how they voted is available here. The 301 Conservative MPs listed as voting Aye all voted to reject the Lib Dem amendment. Text of the full amendment passed by the House of Lords: After Clause 214 Insert the following new Clause— “Regeneration of schools and hospitals: register of serious disrepair (1) Within one month of the day on which this Act is passed the Secretary of State must establish a register of schools and hospitals in England in serious disrepair. (2) The register must comprise of a list of— (a) schools that have been partially or fully closed on a temporary or permanent basis because one or more school building was deemed unsafe for staff or pupils, (b) schools that have classrooms or buildings on site that are closed due to disrepair and details of those classrooms or buildings, (c) schools that require major rebuilding or refurbishment, (d) hospitals that have been partially or fully closed on a temporary or permanent basis because one or more hospital building was deemed unsafe for staff or pupils, (e) hospitals that have rooms, wards or buildings on site that are closed due to disrepair and details of those rooms, wards or buildings, and (f) hospitals that require major rebuilding or refurbishment. (3) The register must be reviewed every three months to ensure it contains up-to-date information.” Member's explanatory statement This amendment would require the Government to keep a register of schools and hospitals in serious disrepair, and ensure the register is regularly updated. |
The amendment was tabled on 5th July 2023.