§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations have been made by the fire research station into the consequences of fires in buildings containing asbestos materials and the subsequent distribution of asbestos particles; what conclusions were reached on the consequential risks to firemen or residents from inflamable asbestos fibres; and if he will make a statement on the steps being taken to reduce this.
§ Mr. MoynihanAt the beginning of 1986 the fire research station carried out a small-scale investigation of the effect of heat on the principal types of asbestos materials used in buildings, and undertook preliminary modelling studies of the dispersal of fibres in the fire plume. It was concluded from these studies that further work was necessary before the risks to firemen or residents from asbestos in fires could be fully assessed. This further work is continuing.