§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will commission a study of the Norwegian experience in respect of the non-employment of smokers in asbestos-related work; and if he will make a statement. [93027]
§ Mr. MealeI have been asked to reply.
As far as I am aware, there is no policy in Norway on the non-employment of smokers in asbestos-related work. Because smoking increases the absolute lung cancer risk from asbestos, UK Government policy is to discourage those who work with asbestos from smoking. The Government have no further plans to commission research in this area.