§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he has taken to strengthen the enforcement of regulations related to the handling of asbestos; and what future proposals he has in this area. [62497]
§ Mr. MeacherI am about to lay amendment regulations before the House which will require more stringent control over exposure to asbestos at work, tightening up the requirements for asbestos licensing and refocusing controls on those most likely to come into contact with asbestos as part of their work, such as maintenance and demolition workers.
The Health and Safety Commission are consulting on proposals for a ban on white asbestos. They will shortly 42W publish guidance on substituting asbestos, and Health and Safety Executive inspectors will enforce the duty on employers to substitute for asbestos where it sis practicable to do so.
I have made clear my view that HSE should give a high enforcement priority to asbestos, and in future greater resources will be devoted to administering and enforcing the new legislation. Already targets for inspection of notified asbestos removal work have been increased.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many prosecutions have been brought and by which agencies for breach of asbestos-related regulations in each of the past 10 years. [62496]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Health and Safety Executive has taken or initiated the following asbestos related prosecutions in each of the last 10 years.
43W
Informations laid Convictions 1987–88 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 32 27 Asbestos Regulations 1969 14 8 1988–89 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 21 21 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 14 13 Asbestos Regulations 1969 4 3 1989–90 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 52 47 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 14 7 Asbestos (Prohibitions) Amendments Regulation 1988 1 0 1990–91 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 57 48 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 7 7 1991–92 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 47 39 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 8 7 1992–93 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 24 23 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 3 3 1993–94 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 31 20 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 5 5 1994–95 The Control of Asbestons at Work Regulations 1987 37 29 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulation 1983 7 6
Informations laid Convictions 1995–96 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 51 33 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 13 11 1996–97 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 37 31 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 5 4 1997–981 The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 42 38 Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 3 3 1 Provisional Notes:
1. From 1996–97 data includes proceedings instituted by HSE's FOD, CHID (excluding explosives and pipelines) and NSD (conventional safety only).
2. The information HSE has from Local Authorities on proceedings they have taken under legislation for which HSE is responsible does not separately identify the asbestos-related prosecutions.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he takes to monitor the level of fines or other sanctions in asbestos-related court cases; and if he will make a statement. [62498]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Health and Safety Commission (HSC) keeps me informed of the level of penalties imposed for health and safety offences. The general level of penalties imposed for these crimes, including those related to asbestos, does not in my view or that of the HSC match their seriousness. However, I welcome the demonstration in a recent case related to asbestos removal in Birmingham that the courts are willing to imprison individuals who have committed serious health and safety offences. I also welcome the Court of Appeal judgment on 6 November which said that health and safety fines are too low. I hope this judgment will help the courts reflect the full gravity of such offences when they decide future sentences.