§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) when the Health and Safety Commission propose to introduce regulations affecting controls in the use of asbestos in the thermal insulation and demolition industries; if the regulations will be brought before Parliament; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when he expects to receive the report from the Asbestos Advisory Committee, being chaired by Mr. Bill Simpson, Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission; and if he will make a statement.
508W
§ Mr. John GrantThe Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission, who also chairs the Advisory Committee on Asbestos, has submitted to me formally the first report of the Committee. This report contains recommendations for new regulations affecting, inter alia, controls in the use and handling of asbestos in the thermal insulation, dismantling and demolition industries. The Health and Safety Commission is now considering a second report dealing with the measurement and monitoring of asbestos in air, and the chairman informs me that he expects to submit it to me and other Ministers concerned soon. I shall be discussing arrangements for publication of both these reports with the Commission and will make a further announcement in due course.
As far as the final report of the Committee is concerned I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 21st November 1977 [Vol. 939, c. 593.]
At its discussion on the first report, the Health and Safety Commission decided that in preparing proposals for any new regulations, it would be guided by comments received on the report. Such regulations can be proposed to the Secretary of State by the Commisson only after consultation in accordance with Section 50 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, so it is not yet possible to fix a date for their introduction. The Commission agrees, however, that action is needed in the field covered by the report.
Any new proposals for regulations approved by the Secretary of State will be made by Statutory Instrument and will be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament in accordance with Section 82(3)(b) of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.