A trade union has called for the private financing of public buildings to be scrapped in the wake of a damning report on defects in Edinburgh's schools.

The Unite union said the funding model should be dropped following an inquiry into structural problems in 17 schools built in Edinburgh under the controversial private public partnership (PPP) process.

All 17 schools were closed after a wall collapsed in high winds at Oxgangs Primary.

Industry expert John Cole said it was only a matter of "luck and timing" that a child had not been killed.

He blamed "poor construction and inadequate supervision" and outlined concerns about the wider construction sector.

He said the city council had a "sound rationale" for building the schools under the private finance model.

However, Unite's deputy Scottish secretary Mary Alexander said the report showed that local councils were being "held at gunpoint" to use private finance.

She said: "Even if it was shown that it was cheaper to use traditional public sector borrowing, local authorities were being told quite clearly that PFI was the only game in town.

"It's no surprise to us that the report finds that using private finance increases the risk of poor quality design and construction.

"But it is absolutely shocking to find the report say that the Edinburgh scheme was 'quite typical' in this regard."

She said a national inquiry should now be held to "assure" the public about buildings constructed under the private finance model.

Ms Alexander added: "Private finance is delivering poor quality at extortionate cost, putting massive debt around the necks of councils, health boards and other public bodies, and dragging them under at a time of austerity.

"The use of private finance models should be scrapped now."

The Scottish Futures Trust - set up in 2008 to oversee the delivery of public infrastructure projects - said the finance model for the construction of the 17 schools was no longer used.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The safety of people in public buildings is an absolute priority. That is why the housing minister Kevin Stewart has written to all local authorities highlighting the issues and recommendations the Cole Report raises and underlining the importance of adhering to building regulations, technical standards and the inspection processes which are in place to protect the public.

"The design of buildings is now very different with modern approaches to building insulation and construction leading to much less frequent use of the 'brick and block' construction found to be defective in the Edinburgh schools programme."

The spokesman added that the government was "not complacent" and had sought assurances about the quality arrangements in place.

He added: "The Cole report notes that the failures identified in Edinburgh were around construction quality and supervision. The Minister has raised these issues with the chief executive of City of Edinburgh Council and received reassurances on the action they are taking to ensure the safety of pupils and staff across the city."