A MONMOUTHSHIRE AM is backing a new campaign to give parents in Wales the right to knowin which school buildings asbestos is present.

The Right to Know: Asbestos in Schools Wales campaign was launched after the recent alert at Cwmcarn High School.

The campaign was launched by Cardiff-based law firm New Law with the support of a number of cancer charities and AM Nick Ramsay is supporting it.

He will chair a new crossparty group which will examine the feasibility of establishing a central schools asbestos database.

Parents would be able to access it online, check whether asbestos is present in any school and whether a management plan is in place where it is present.

Mr Ramsay said: “It is only fair that parents are able to check whether their childrens’ schools are affected by this hidden killer.

“The danger that asbestos represents to children and teachers alike should no longer be put to one side, and we will be strongly encouraging local authorities to voluntarily share their data around asbestos in schools.”

Monmouthshire council is the first local authority to sign up.