§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the amount of Government funding in each of the last three years to help with the removal of asbestos from public or private buildings.
§ Sir George YoungRate support grant is paid to local authorities in support of their revenue expenditure generally, including expenditure on removal of asbestos.
§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with local authorities as to the development of nationwide policies to remove asbestos in council properties; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI met representatives of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities in November 1983 to discuss that association's concern about asbestos. As a result of that meeting, a joint central and local government working party was set up to consider the technical aspects of problems concerning asbestos. The Government's current advice on asbestos removal from buildings, including council properties, is set out in the booklet "Asbestos Materials in Buildings". A copy of this was sent to all local authorities in England and Wales with an explanatory circular—DOE 21/83 or WO 45/83—in August last year.
The Department has also published a free leaflet on asbestos in housing, and about 300,000 copies have been distributed.
§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce a ban on the use of all asbestos in both private and public new building projects.
§ Sir George YoungMy right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce a general ban on the use of all asbestos in new building projects, whether private or public. The Health and Safety Executive, however, issued draft regulations at the end of last year to prohibit
- (i) the importation, use in manufacture, and marketing of crocidolite and amosite, and products containing these minerals;
- (ii) asbestos spraying;
- (iii) asbestos insulation; and
the Department of Trade and Industry has recently issued proposals for draft regulations to prohibit to supply of crocidolite and amosite asbestos fibres and products containing these fibres.
My Department has issued detailed guidance on the use of asbestos materials in buildings, as indicated in my answer to another of the hon. Member's questions.