§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will draw up inventories of all military establishments where asbestos is present, to enable his Department to alert public agencies to public health and safety risks in the event of fire.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThis suggestion is currently being considered. I will place a further reply in theOfficial Report when I am in a position to do so.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what action was taken, and when, to alert public agencies, including the Health and Safety Commission, to public health and safety risks arising from asbestos debris caused by the recent army depot fire at Donnington, Shropshire.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe Ministry of Defence had no knowledge that the coating applied to the corrugated iron roofing sheets during their manufacture some 40 years ago contained asbestos. So far as I am aware, the presence of asbestos was first shown four days after the fire when an analysis of debris indicated an asbestos content. Because this might have constituted a health hazard, appropriate precautionary measures were immediately set in hand by the local authority, to whom the Army has given full assistance.