§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in reference to his reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East on 26th April 1976, he will list in the Official Report the number of visits to each installation of British Gas in Scotland over the last three months and indicate the nature and result of discussions regarding asbestos hazards.
§ Mr. John GrantThere are 156 premises of British Gas Corporation in Scotland subject to the Factories Act 1961. The Asbestos Regulations 1969 apply intermittently to five of these.
Since 1st January 1976 two visits have been paid by members of the district staff to one of these premises, at the request of British Gas, to discuss with British Gas and the specialist contractor who was undertaking the removal of asbestos-based lagging, the requirements of the Asbestos Regulations. At one of these visits work was in progress and there was compliance with the regulations. At the second visit, no work was in progress, but further full discussions on methods of meeting the requirements of the regulations took place, with emphasis on those regulations dealing with the removal of lagging containing crocidolite, which British Gas had discovered by sampling to be present. Further sampling by the district staff has been arranged.
There have also been two visits paid to other installations by construction inspectors to discuss with British Gas and with specialist contractors the demolition of plant lagged with asbestos-based lagging, and the application of the Asbestos Regulations to these operations. British Gas and the specialist contractors involved have been made aware of the hazards from asbestos and of the requirements of the regulations.