 ordered more than 100 schools to partially or fully close. This is due to the schools having buildings made from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), which is at greater risk of sudden collapse. The DfE has been considering RAAC as a potential issue since 2018, and on Friday's GMB, minister Gibb was in the hot seat as he was questioned by Rinder and Charlotte Hawkins. It didn't take long for Rinder to bring up a clip of Gibb, speaking in parliament earlier in the year, 'giving a commitment' that they would publish information about at-risk properties before summer recess. 'That hasn't happened, has it?' Hawkins asked flatly. Gibb replied: 'Well we will publish – look, this is – this issue is new, it emerged over the summer.' Rob Rinder and Charlotte Hawkins grilled the schools minister on his previous commitment (Picture: ITV) Gibb had spoken in parliament earlier this year promising to publish the information before the summer break (Picture: PA) Put to him again that he had made a commitment to publish that information before the summer and that it still hadn't been done, he argued that it was 'about something else.' He said RAAC had been thought to have been safe, but it emerged over the summer that it no longer was, so they 'took the very big decision [to close schools] over the summer.' Rinder pointed out that the initial report 'included Raac … so you thought it was safe and it's no longer safe?' 'Correct,' Gibb responded. Leading Rinder to ask: 'So when you made that statement in parliament, was it correct or incorrect?' 'Well I can't remember what that particular thing is about,' Gib){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
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Schools minister Nick Gibb couldn’t handle the pressure when he was interrogated by Rob Rinder on Good Morning Britain.
The return to school after the summer holidays has been cast into chaos for some families, as on Thursday the Department for Education (DfE) ordered more than 100 schools to partially or fully close.
This is due to the schools having buildings made from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), which is at greater risk of sudden collapse.