§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of illnesses and deaths consequent upon work in the asbestos stripping industry from the date of the first keeping of such records; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe advisory committee on asbestos, in its first report, concluded that workers in the asbestos stripping industry showed the highest incidence of asbestos-related diseases. However, it is not possible to produce the estimate requested in respect of work people in Great Britain except at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will accept the proposals of the General and Municipal Workers Union to set up a system of workers inspectors with the statutory right to halt asbestos stripping if licence conditions are being avoided; if he will consider setting up special area approval boards empowered to vet licence applications; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will meet the General and Municipal Workers Union and the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association to discuss their views on the draft regulations on asbestos removal; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what is his estimate of the response to the draft regulation of the Health and Safety Commission on asbestos removal, by trade unions and employers; if he has considered the 4 February press statement by the Confederation of British. Industry on these draft regulations; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he will take steps to ensure that asbestos removal workers receive medical examinations by Employment Medical Advisory Service doctors;
(5) if he is confident that the Factory Inspectorate can police the proposed regulations on asbestos removal; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe Health and Safety Commission (HSC) issued a consultative document entitled "Asbestos 51W (Licensing) Draft Regulations" in November 1982 and comments are still being received. The HSC will consider these draft regulations in the light of comments on the document with a view to submitting proposed regulations to my right hon. Friend. It would be inappropriate to meet the General and Municipal Workers Union and the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association at this stage of the consultative procedure.
§ Mr. Harold Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish his response to the recent letter sent to him by the Confederation of British Industry calling for more stringent controls over the use and manufacture of asbestos products throughout the European Community and for tighter safeguards for workers; and if he will make a statement on measures he proposes to take in this field.
§ Mr. GummerIn my right hon. Friend's reply to the CBI's call for early community legislation covering the manufacture and use of asbestos, he referred to the Council of Ministers meeting on 10 December 1982. He informed the CBI that at that meeting, although the United Kingdom and other countries had pressed hard, the Council had not been able to take decisions on the key issues of the draft worker protection directive, namely its scope and the control limit for crocidolite. One member state at that time was unable to accept the proposals on these issues. My right hon. Friend told the CBI that we would continue to do all we could to achieve adoption. We are hopeful that our efforts at the Council of Ministers meeting will achieve progress.
At the same time, the Health and Safety Commission is pressing ahead with its own programe of work. On 1 January 1983, new control limits for asbestos were introduced. A consultative document on asbestos licensing incorporating draft regulations was issued in November. The commission will be considering these regulations in the light of comments received.
The commission has also decided to take action on the prohibition of spraying of asbestos, of asbestos insulation, and of crocidolite and products containing it. Finally, proposals for legislation to implement the rest of the advisory committee on asbestos recommendations and the likely provisions of the workers protection directive are in preparation by the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has accepted the Health and Safety Executive's proposal that licences for manufacturers using asbestos should be renewed every two years.
§ Mr. GummerThe Health and Safety Commission (HSC) issued a Consultative Document entitled "Asbestos (Licensing) Draft Regulations" in November 1982, and comments are still being received. The HSC will consider these draft regulations in the light of comments on the document with a view to submitting proposed regulations to my right hon. Friend.