Over the past three years the Highland News Group has exposed asbestos problems across many of Highland Council's education buildings.

The new report, by the Asbestos Training and Consultancy Association (ATAC), was handed to schools minister, MP Diana Johnson yesterday (Wednesday).

Now Highlands and Islands MSP Mary Scanlon has said she will fight to get councils to take the issue more seriously.

ATAC conducted a pilot assessment on schools who volunteered to take part. The report found widespread failings in asbestos management, with some schools having no knowledge of asbestos management at all.

It argues that schools are not complying with their legal duty to manage asbestos, and training surrounding asbestos in schools is poor or non-existent.

Last month the HNG was praised by Mrs Scanlon in the Scottish Parliament for exposing Highland Council's failure to manage the deadly material, which was used in the construction of many of its schools.

The HNG first raised the issue in 2007 when teachers at Nairn Academy were told to stop using drawing pins in walls for fear of disturbing asbestos.

In another incident last year at the same school, a number of classrooms were closed for several months after contractors working on the roof disturbed asbestos fibres contained in ceiling artex.

There were other scares at Wick and Kingussie high schools.

The council consistently claimed it had an adequate management plan in place for containing the material.

But then we discovered the council had not kept accurate records of where asbestos was lurking in its buildings.

The council went out to tender on a contract to have surveys of all its educational establishments carried out. But it emerged that only happened after the intervention of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which served the council with an improvement notice under Control of Asbestos regulations and the Safety at Work Act.

The council has until next May to put matters right or face prosecution.

Classrooms at Nairn Academy were closed for months last year after asbestos fibres in the ceiling were disturbed by contractors working on the school roof. Gary Anthony

Around 75 per cent of schools in Britain contain the potentially deadly substance, and there have been cases of both teachers and pupils dying from the fatal disease mesothelioma, contracted from asbestos exposure. Regulations require stringent measures to be taken to effectively manage asbestos.

The government's current policy for schools is to leave the asbestos in place and manage it, rather than remove it, but without the necessary resources many schools are not managing their asbestos effectively or safely.

ATAC chairman John O'Sullivan said: "Numerous incidents have taken place where asbestos fibres have been released, the schools contaminated and teachers, support staff and pupils have been exposed.

"The increasing numbers of mesothelioma deaths amongst teachers and support staff is testament that the policy of management has failed."

The main teaching unions are renewing their calls for a widespread audit of asbestos danger in schools.

Association of Teachers and Lecturers general secretary Mary Bousted said the government should set up an independent body to monitor and provide advice on asbestos in schools and remove it.

National Union of Teachers general secretary Christine Blower said the survey showed "decisive steps are desperately needed" and that asbestos should be eradicated from all schools.

Schools minister Ms Johnson was handed a copy of the report yesterday before a meeting with the Asbestos in Schools Group. Thirty-four local authorities are now being investigated by HSE as a result of the study.

Tory MSP Mrs Scanlon said: "The report confirms the concerns raised by the Highland News Group.

"I'm glad the Westminster Government are now looking at this issue and I will be asking the Scottish Government to look at it because I don't believe councils are treating this matter seriously enough."

A spokeswoman for Highland Council confirmed that a contract for the surveys of the 197 schools was awarded last month to Blackburn-based Assist Facilities Management Ltd.

As well as preparing plans of all schools and identifying exactly where the asbestos is in the buildings, the contract involves training of staff, and the preparation of asbestos management plans for each building.

d.wilson@highland-news.co.uk

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