SCOTLAND is lagging behind the rest of the EU on stripping out asbestos from school buildings, campaigners say.

The Scottish Government was accused of failing to adopt an eradication plan for asbestos in schools.

Clydeside Action on Asbestos and the GMB union say there is a much stricter regime in England and other EU nations.

Schools in England have a "future asbestos removal policy" - where dangerous fibres are ripped out en masse of school buildings, CAA and the GMB say.

However, they said that in Scotland there are only periodic inspections for discrepancies.

The campaigners say there are more than 1600 hundred primary and secondary schools in Scotland that contain asbestos.

Scotland has no "future asbestos removal policy in place and is therefore lagging behind England and even further behind the rest of Europe in tackling the threat of asbestos in our schools," Phyllis Craig of CAA said.

She said: "If we compare the lack of commitment in Scotland to how the issue is treated in England there are stark differences.

"The Education Funding Agency in England published two crucial reports in 2017.

"One was the findings of a voluntary data collection exercise that asked schools to provide information about the presence of asbestos in their school, how they managed the asbestos whether they complied with legislation and guidance about managing asbestos, and staff training.

"Undertaking a similar exercise in Scotland would be an important first step in identifying the extent of risk to our school children.

"If there are schools in Scotland that are not effectively managing asbestos, this needs to be urgently addressed."

GMB Scotland Organiser Kirsty Nimmo added: "It has been well documented that any building built before the year 2000 may contain asbestos and our schools are no exception to this.

"We know that there are more than 1600 hundred primary and secondary schools in Scotland that contain asbestos.

"It’s shameful and unacceptable that Scotland has no future asbestos removal policy in place and is therefore lagging behind England and even further behind the rest of Europe in tackling the threat of asbestos in our schools."

However, a Scottish Government spokesman said the condition of school buildings had improved.

The spokesman said: “We are clear that local authorities must ensure they are providing safe and clean environments for all school users.

"In the last ten years, there has been a reduction of almost two thirds in the proportion of pupils educated in “poor” or “bad” condition schools.

"We take the issue of the handling of asbestos within school buildings very seriously and expect local authorities to strictly follow Health and Safety Executive recommendations."