School leaders have called for Russian energy supplier Gazprom to be removed from a government service that helps schools switch energy suppliers, in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
The Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) School Switch service provides a way for schools and academies to obtain energy supply quotations and to switch their energy supplier - and Gazprom is one of 11 suppliers that are part of the service.
But the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has urged the government to review the issue as a “matter of urgency” and remove Gazprom from the list.
The union has also said the government should give schools guidance on how to proceed with existing contracts they may have with the provider, after it was revealed that multiple councils were trying to sever their ties with the firm.
Asked if Gazprom would be removed from the switching service earlier this week, the CCS - the biggest public procurement organisation in the UK and an agency of the Cabinet Office - said it would follow government guidance on suppliers and update public-sector customers if the situation changed.
A government spokesperson said that the government would “work closely with authorities” to ensure they are able to comply with the financial and investment restrictions on Russia and would engage with them on what support they need to do this.
The spokesperson added: “The UK is in no way dependent on Russian gas supply and our highly diverse sources of gas supply and a diverse electricity mix ensures that households, businesses and heavy industry get the energy they need.”
Removing Gazprom is ‘a matter of urgency’
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the ASCL, said the organisation “would strongly urge” the government to review the inclusion of Gazprom in the School Switch service “as a matter of urgency”, remove Gazprom from the CCS list, and provide schools and colleges with guidance on how to proceed on existing contracts.
He added: “The abhorrent behaviour of the Russian government in Ukraine demands the strongest possible response and we are sure that schools, colleges and local authorities will welcome support from the government over how to deal with this situation.”
The GMB union, which represents school support staff, echoed the call, and called for Gazprom to be removed from the service “immediately”.
And Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said: “Given that the health secretary has today been reported as telling the NHS to stop using energy supplied by this company, we would assume that the government will also be removing them from the School Switch service immediately.”
A senior government source said this afternoon that health secretary Sajid Javid had been in talks with NHS England over ending contracts with Gazprom, which are reported by Politico to have been worth £16 million in 2021.
The calls come after councils announced they were trying to exit contracts with Gazprom to supply their schools, as well as other public buildings.
Councillor Matthew Hicks, leader of Suffolk County Council, said that he had instructed officers last week to “review” the council’s contract with Russian-owned energy company Gazprom, and had decided to invoke “options to break away from the contract”.
Merton Council in London also said it was seeking to end its contract with Gazprom “in response to the atrocities being committed by the Russian state in Ukraine”.
It added: “Gazprom is due to begin a new one-year, £1 million contract to supply gas across Merton’s buildings, including leisure centres, libraries and some schools, on 1 April. The council is now reviewing its position and is in discussions with other energy suppliers.”
Schools acting in the ‘public interest’
Other school leaders have also expressed a desire to avoid contracts with the Russian state supplier.
Rob McDonough, chief executive of the East Midlands Education Trust (EMET), said that he would not enter into a contract with Gazprom now, even if it was cheaper than other firms.
He said: “As a school leader, I am a person who holds a position of significant trust in public office. As such, I have an obligation to act solely in terms of the public interest.
“The horrors that are unfolding in Ukraine have united both the country and the world into a singular ambition to do all we can to support the Ukrainian people and to help bring this tragedy to an end.
“If our schools were to purchase energy from Gazprom at this moment in time, we would not be acting in the public interest and would be letting down all those who have entrusted us to our positions of responsibility. We would also be letting down the people of Ukraine. I remain confident the government will appreciate the significant additional costs in energy the school sector faces and will offer us additional financial support.”
Gazprom declined to comment on the story, saying it did not comment on contractual arrangements with individual customers.
