HC Deb 18 January 2000 vol 342 cc356-7W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals are being considered to oblige owners of sub-standard underground storage tanks to replace them, line them or retrofit cathodic protection. [104635]

Mr. Meacher

Existing health and safety legislation requires all employers to assess the risks from their work activities. Where the result of the assessment indicates that storage tanks may be sub-standard, the employer should select the most suitable remedial measure to reduce the risk of a leak. Suitable measures for underground petrol storage tanks include replacement, taking the tank out of use, lining the tank, or fitting cathodic protection.

Petroleum Licensing Officers may specifically require the above matters as part of a petrol licence if they consider this is appropriate.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to require underground storage tank owners to measure the risk of corrosion failure. [104637]

Mr. Meacher

Employers are required to assess the risks to people's heath and safety in the event of a leak from an underground storage tank, and the likelihood of a tank corroding is one of the factors that should be taken into account in the assessment.

The Health and Safety Executive has issued guidance on the need to provide corrosion protection where appropriate and it is included in recently published industry guidance as one of the methods to manage the risk of a leak. Measuring the actual degree of corrosion is technically difficult and can be hazardous to the workers involved. For these reasons HSE would advocate leak protection and detection methods.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received on the reliability of tightness testing with regard to underground storage tanks. [104639]

Mr. Meacher

Tightness testing is one of a number of options available to employers to check the integrity of a new underground storage tank or to confirm a suspected leak in an existing tank. No recent representations have been received on the reliability of tightness testing.