The fact the local authority does not know if the deadly material is present or a risk in almost one-third of its schools because they have not been surveyed is worrying, and only 74 of the 197 have had full surveys.

While accusations of being alarmist are probably going to bandied about in council circles following exposure of these figures, the bottom line is that there has already been a serious safety alert and contamination at Nairn Academy this year – where the risk was known and guidelines had been issued on matters as mundane as the use of drawing pins – which led to partial closure and pupils being bussed to other locations for lessons.

Safety – particularly of children – in what should be a secure environment should be paramount and parents have every right to expect those in charge of these establishments to have made sure they are as risk-free as possible.

Some may be reassured that they council is now issuing a contract to have all the schools fully surveyed and an asbestos management strategy drawn up for each in the next six months.

However, we have concerns over the council's refusal to reveal which schools have not had full surveys, despite several requests over a 10-day period during our investigation. We believe that information should have been readily available given the council is seeking to issue a contract and such a list must have formed part of it.

What is also surprising is that the council has decided to treat our question as a request under the Freedom of Information Act – a procedure we did not ask for as we did not believe it is necessary. We can only assume that this was, for some reason best know to council officials, a delaying tactic giving 21 days to decide whether they would issue the information sought, but with no guarantee they would eventually do so.

We believe that the public, and more importantly the parents with children at the schools, have a right to know now where the potential risks are – and not have this information tied up and concealed in red tape and arousing suspicions.

They might be content that the council is at last taking action, but in the meantime they can decide whether extra care may need to be taken to minimise any potential risk.

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