HC Deb 17 July 1990 vol 176 cc537-8W
35. Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken to(a) screen personnel and (b) assess hazard in additional buildings, following the discovery of brown asbestos in offices at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down, near Salisbury.

Mr. Neubert

Following the discovery of a trace of amosite, or brown asbestos, at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment Boscombe Down, staff have been given a medical briefing by the occupational hygienist and the offer of an individual consultation. If, following such a consultation, members of staff wish to be given an appropriate medical screening, the establishment has offered to arrange for it to be provided free of charge.

The dust sample containing the trace of amosite came from a single building with inner and outer cladding of white asbestos sheeting. Extensive tests of the air in, and the fabric of, this building and eight others of a similar age and construction have, however, all proved to be negative.