:01:30. > :01:34.In the North East and Cumbria, a total of 10 school buildings
:01:34. > :01:44.contain asbestos. An MP says teachers are dying and children are
:01:44. > :01:44.
:01:44. > :35:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2004 seconds
:35:09. > :35:13.Coming up, these are some of the men and women who want to run the
:35:13. > :35:18.North's five police forces. As more candidates are unveiled this week,
:35:18. > :35:27.we ask what qualifications they need to do the job. Talking about
:35:28. > :35:32.that are Carlisle MP John Stevenson and Grahame Morris.
:35:32. > :35:38.Around 8 out of 10 schools in our region contain asbestos. That is
:35:38. > :35:46.according to a Sunday Politics survey of -- across the area. Do we
:35:46. > :35:51.need to do anything about it? More than 140 schools staff have died
:35:51. > :35:57.from exposure to asbestos across the UK and the last decade. A North
:35:57. > :36:03.East MP says the risk is so great it is time to act.
:36:03. > :36:07.A typical chorister in a typical school. Like so many, this one
:36:07. > :36:17.dates from a time when asbestos was a basic building material --
:36:17. > :36:19.
:36:19. > :36:24.corridor. In the school, we have asbestos in the heating ducts. We
:36:24. > :36:28.know it is there, we know where it is. We have good records. We do
:36:28. > :36:32.periodic inspections to make sure that it is as it should be. And
:36:32. > :36:41.that nobody has been up there or there is no sign of deterioration.
:36:42. > :36:45.According to figures, nearly 1,700 schools in the area, more than
:36:45. > :36:51.1,300 contain asbestos. Like all new school, this has been built
:36:51. > :36:55.without asbestos. North East MP showed me round. He told me about
:36:55. > :36:59.his parliamentary campaign to have the material removed from all
:36:59. > :37:06.schools. He is worried by the growing number of teachers are
:37:06. > :37:11.dying from asbestos related cancer. One of the big problems is that it
:37:11. > :37:15.affects thousands of children. We must look at a phased removal. It
:37:15. > :37:21.must be removed from every school in the UK and I understand that
:37:21. > :37:26.will be very difficult. It will be a difficult task, but we must do it
:37:26. > :37:33.in the best interest of the school and in particular, these children.
:37:33. > :37:41.Teacher Patricia Cameron was exposed to asbestos in the 1970s.
:37:41. > :37:46.She died in 2004. As her daughter explains. In came as such a shock.
:37:46. > :37:52.I had never heard of their cancer. It was something I did not
:37:52. > :38:01.associate with teachers or teaching. Obviously after this is -- after
:38:01. > :38:07.the receipt -- the research I did, I know all about it now. A few
:38:07. > :38:12.months ago, builders working at the school unexpectedly does that --
:38:12. > :38:19.discovered some old asbestos and a wall. There was no exposure of
:38:19. > :38:26.school that -- staff. That would have had an impact on a lot of
:38:26. > :38:31.parents. Of course, three days of the children's education was lost.
:38:31. > :38:41.Why not take asbestos out of all schools? There is a massive cost
:38:41. > :38:41.
:38:41. > :38:49.implications. Authorities face huge cuts at the moment. The teaching
:38:49. > :38:56.unions say the price of Izmit -- removing asbestos is worth paying.
:38:56. > :39:01.We did a national survey last year. We found very few members of staff
:39:01. > :39:05.actually knew whether their schools had asbestos and them and knew what
:39:05. > :39:09.to do if they came across up damaged asbestos. The official
:39:09. > :39:19.advice is that as long as it is in good condition and done disturbed,
:39:19. > :39:19.
:39:19. > :39:26.it poses no threat. -- understaffed. Tipped to protect the next
:39:26. > :39:33.generation, there are growing calls -- to protect. We know the North
:39:33. > :39:38.East has had a lot of problems with asbestos. How serious do you think
:39:38. > :39:44.the threat is? I think it is a threat. I would like to pay tribute
:39:44. > :39:48.to the work that my colleague has done and raising the issue. We know
:39:48. > :39:52.140 teachers have died in the last 10 years. We do not know how many
:39:52. > :39:56.other cleaners, caretakers, maintenance workers have been
:39:56. > :40:02.involved because no records have been in -- no records have been
:40:02. > :40:08.kept. I think the idea that we should have a phased programme is a
:40:08. > :40:12.sensible approach. You must remember that one of the problems
:40:12. > :40:18.we face with the cancellation of the Building Schools For The Future
:40:18. > :40:23.programme and the dramatic cutbacks in the repairs budget, there is an
:40:23. > :40:33.issue of how quickly those schools built after 1975 are going to be
:40:33. > :40:33.
:40:33. > :40:36.replaced. Do you agree it is safer to have removed their asbestos?
:40:36. > :40:44.have sympathy with local authorities because there is a risk
:40:44. > :40:54.here. They must manage that. -- I have. In my constituency, I am
:40:54. > :40:58.quite and -- quite fortunate. There is no issue. Not inured you going
:40:58. > :41:05.in before refurbishment and removing this and a phased way?
:41:05. > :41:09.must balance the risk. They must assess what they can do to remove
:41:09. > :41:15.asbestos where they can. When the opportunity arises, you should take
:41:15. > :41:21.that opportunity. Over time, schools are refurbished, as they
:41:21. > :41:27.are replaced, that is a real opportunity to deal with it.
:41:27. > :41:32.experts' advice is that this is safe as long as it is not disturbed.
:41:32. > :41:35.The truth of the matter is that we do not know the scale of the
:41:35. > :41:45.problem because there are such a queue each time lapse between
:41:45. > :41:50.exposure to asbestos and the illness. Every day activities, it
:41:50. > :41:54.does not have to be a refurbishment. Slamming a classroom door five
:41:54. > :42:00.times can put 600 times more asbestos fibre into the atmosphere
:42:00. > :42:08.than the normal background evidence. When resources are tight, it is not
:42:08. > :42:13.a priority, is it? What price do you put on an individual, a child
:42:13. > :42:16.or a teacher or a caretaker, what price do you put on their health
:42:16. > :42:24.and safety and -- and their well- being? A you must be professional
:42:24. > :42:28.about this. I think that is what local authorities must do. You must
:42:28. > :42:37.make sure that schools are inspected on a regular basis. That
:42:37. > :42:43.is what I think... They is a gamble here. 30, 40 year period. We are is
:42:43. > :42:50.another side to it. Apart from the Managed Risk, there is the issue of
:42:50. > :42:54.publicising it to make sure every school where they are being gripe -
:42:54. > :43:00.- quite proactive, lots of schools are not aware of the dangers.
:43:00. > :43:03.Parents are not aware of the changes. It must be clear. It is
:43:03. > :43:09.important that local authorities make sure that schools are aware of
:43:09. > :43:14.the issue if there is asbestos and a school. As you see schools been
:43:14. > :43:20.refurbished, and... Our the Government risking more of this
:43:20. > :43:26.danger by not dealing with schools as fast as the previous government?
:43:26. > :43:29.I think we must accept budgetary constraints. We must be careful of
:43:30. > :43:37.the risk that there is. That is what schools must do and local
:43:37. > :43:44.authorities. Night a group of men and women who
:43:44. > :43:48.will be trying to get to vote. Elections take place in November
:43:48. > :43:58.but what sort of person has the qualifications? Should they be
:43:58. > :43:59.
:43:59. > :44:07.police officers are politicians? On the streets of fighting crime,
:44:07. > :44:17.something is changing and the police. It stands for police and
:44:17. > :44:20.
:44:20. > :44:28.Crown Commissioners. PCC. We're just starting to find out who wants
:44:28. > :44:32.the job. Some are familiar faces. Now she has been selected as
:44:32. > :44:39.Labour's candidate for the Police Commission. She has never been a
:44:39. > :44:42.police officer. The job is the reverse. It is to represent the
:44:42. > :44:47.community to be the voice of the people of Northumberland. What you
:44:47. > :44:55.say to people who say this is just another way to get back into
:44:55. > :45:01.politics? I am here to serve the public of Northumberland who were
:45:01. > :45:07.suffering extremely badly from Tory cuts. Most of the candidates have
:45:07. > :45:17.not been police officers. This man is standing for Labour as
:45:17. > :45:18.
:45:18. > :45:24.commissioner. Labour's candidate in Durham has been a policeman. He's a
:45:24. > :45:29.former police constable. The Lib Dems have not put any candidates up.
:45:29. > :45:38.The Conservatives will suggest their candidates for the end of
:45:38. > :45:40.July. This man has thrown his hat into the ring. A lot of the public
:45:40. > :45:46.will see it as common sense that someone with direct policing
:45:47. > :45:51.experience will be a good person for the job. I feel strongly that
:45:51. > :45:57.this role should not be politicised. It should not been given to a
:45:57. > :46:02.career politician who might bring in party politics. For local
:46:02. > :46:11.councillors, ex-MPs and a few ex- police officers. They all want to
:46:11. > :46:20.play a part. John Stevenson, we heard them
:46:20. > :46:24.talking about the advantages of police work. Would it be better
:46:24. > :46:30.with politicians who have experience of representing people?
:46:31. > :46:35.I am delighted they're going ahead with this. I do not think there is
:46:35. > :46:41.a problem he gets elected. I think what matters is the calibre Alok --
:46:41. > :46:48.Caliber of that person. They have got to hold a police to account and
:46:48. > :46:54.the electorate can help -- can hold them to account. I think it is
:46:54. > :47:04.about confidence and quality. ludicrous these jobs should not be
:47:04. > :47:06.
:47:06. > :47:16.politicised? To a certain extent, yes, they are. What we want to see
:47:16. > :47:17.
:47:17. > :47:22.his quality politicians. Graham Morris, Labour have selected
:47:22. > :47:26.retread politicians. Should there have been more referred to find new
:47:26. > :47:34.faces? Labour resisted police commissioners on the ground of
:47:34. > :47:37.costs. The cost, not of the salary, but of the election every four
:47:37. > :47:43.years. It is the equivalent of 3,000 police Constable's. Let us
:47:43. > :47:49.talk about the names. John Prescott is quite formidable. We have a good
:47:49. > :47:58.mix in the North East. We have someone who is a former police
:47:58. > :48:07.officer. We have someone who was a solicitor general. She has an
:48:07. > :48:14.excellent record as a human rights lawyer. We have a man who was a
:48:14. > :48:20.local councillor. He has years of experience. Some people will see
:48:20. > :48:24.this as people who just want a salary. The Labour Party did not
:48:24. > :48:28.support the concept of police commissioners. Now that the
:48:28. > :48:32.Government have forced through there will, it is up to us to
:48:32. > :48:42.select the best candidates that we can. We have a good next, some are
:48:42. > :48:43.
:48:44. > :48:49.poor former police officers. -- some are former police officers. At
:48:49. > :48:59.the end of -- cut the end of the date is up to the voters. It is
:48:59. > :49:06.
:49:06. > :49:11.straight forward for non-party political dependence. It is down to
:49:11. > :49:18.people like yourself to help out there. I am not going to go in one
:49:18. > :49:28.�5,000. You can demonstrate there are independence -- independent
:49:28. > :49:33.
:49:33. > :49:36.standing in an area. In depends on the media coverage. If people like
:49:36. > :49:42.you cells, local radio, local newspapers take an interest in
:49:42. > :49:50.these people, there is no reason there cannot be a robust debate.
:49:50. > :49:57.For you believe a lot of independents will emerge? -- do you
:49:58. > :50:03.believe. I think it will be principally main parties. I think
:50:03. > :50:10.Labour has a very good record in terms of crime and tackling anti-
:50:10. > :50:20.social behaviour. If you do get independent candidates, or is the
:50:20. > :50:22.
:50:22. > :50:30.issue single-issue? Ron Hawke is bringing his experience to bear and
:50:30. > :50:35.specialist experience. Elections in November, hardly anyone will turn
:50:35. > :50:41.out? We will have to wait and see. I think people might be surprised
:50:41. > :50:50.at how many people turn out. It is novel. Thank you.
:50:50. > :51:00.England's game against Italy is hours away. Mark put aside thoughts
:51:00. > :51:05.
:51:05. > :51:12.of formation fit all. -- football. Unemployment is up again in the
:51:12. > :51:17.North East. It rose by 8,000. It fell in Cumbria.
:51:17. > :51:22.Ian Wright told people the region was paying a high price for the
:51:22. > :51:28.recession. Tyneside MP has called on a motion
:51:28. > :51:32.called on missions -- ministers to abandon nuclear weapons.
:51:32. > :51:37.Free schools and academies are not providing the same standard of
:51:37. > :51:43.healthy food as local authority run schools. Ministers say there is no
:51:43. > :51:48.evidence. Her many more calls for a U-turn does the Government need to
:51:48. > :51:51.hear before it does the right thing and put evidence ahead of dogma and
:51:51. > :51:56.make sure more children get the benefit of help the school meals?
:51:56. > :52:06.Fresh research will be carried out on air passenger duty and the
:52:06. > :52:07.
:52:07. > :52:13.impact. Some people believe that damages the North East economy.
:52:13. > :52:19.Why do you think the figures for employment are falling income we
:52:19. > :52:24.are will be a rising elsewhere? Partly, the reason the North East
:52:24. > :52:27.is bucking the trend is that we are losing more jobs and the public
:52:27. > :52:37.sector and job creation in the private sector. There is a robust
:52:37. > :52:40.
:52:40. > :52:46.public it -- economy. Local businesses are holding up. You must
:52:46. > :52:51.have some good examples were the private City it -- private sector
:52:51. > :52:59.is being successful. We had a debate in Parliament this week that
:52:59. > :53:03.in the private sector, it is haemorrhaging jobs. There is
:53:03. > :53:13.145,000 people at work in a region now. There is a list of companies
:53:13. > :53:19.
:53:19. > :53:24.in Nigeria -- in Nigeria. In my constituency -- in my constituency.
:53:24. > :53:29.We have a real problem. It is not to say there are some bright spots.
:53:29. > :53:32.I welcome the 200 jobs that Nissan is creating. There will be benefits
:53:32. > :53:42.in the supply chain. There is no guarantee those contracts will be
:53:42. > :53:43.
:53:43. > :53:50.placed in Durham. There is a potential there. In the North East,
:53:50. > :53:56.it is about the private sector. It's only government is not helping.
:53:56. > :54:02.-- saw the Government is not helping. It is doing its best to
:54:02. > :54:07.help the private sector. We must accept we have a difficult economic
:54:07. > :54:10.backdrop. Nevertheless, throughout the country, if you look at the
:54:10. > :54:14.national figures, you're seeing improvement in employment figures.
:54:14. > :54:21.There are jobs being created. What he must do is encourage the private
:54:21. > :54:26.sector to grow and create these jobs. Her we must stimulate demand.
:54:26. > :54:36.Lack of business confidence, factory production his own. We must
:54:36. > :54:40.