Ruined RAAC concrete found in Parliament House

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The concrete collapse has now been confirmed in Parliament, as the Government continues to deal with the growing Raac crisis.

A door - parliamentary spokesperson said on Monday evening: “As part of ongoing routine investigations, Raac (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) has been identified in an area of ​​the palace.

“Structural engineers have confirmed that there was no immediate risk. Where Raac is located, mitigation measures will be put in place if necessary. >Department of Education officials also confirmed that the ministry received 98% of responses to a questionnaire on the potential for Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (Raac) in their buildings.

Ministers set last Friday was the deadline for headteachers and managers. Agencies must respond.

The new figures were revealed as the Department of Education's Permanent Secretary, Susan Acland-Hood, and Director of Operations, Jane Cunliffe, appeared before the Education Committee public accounts (Pac).

The two senior civil servants were questioned by MPs over the ongoing crisis, with Pac chairwoman Meg Hillier telling civil servants it was “disappointing” that the two men did not appear before MPs ready to provide more figures.

Education Ministry officials resisted questions about how many schools were awaiting an investigation forRaac , while Lady Meg asked if the number was in the “tens” or “hundreds”.

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It is not yet known where in the palace the concrete was found

(PA Archive)

Ms Cunliffe said: “This is moving very quickly, we are carrying out dozens of investigations every day ."

She said eight investigative companies were currently making new and repeat visits to schools.

"As soon as we hear of a school that suspects that she has Raac, we can carry out this investigation in a few weeks. We therefore hope, over the coming weeks, to have identified the majority. »

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