§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers, placed in each category and sub-category of the Employment Medical Advisory Service Survey of Asbestos Workers, have been informed of their conditions, especially workers placed in the categories O/1 and 1.
§ Mr. John GrantWhere chest X-rays reveal clinical conditions requiring investigation and treatment employment medical advisers have instructions to inform the worker and his general practitioner. No records are maintained of the numbers of workers referred to their general practitioners and it is not therefore possible to identify those whose chest X-rays may subsequently be classified to ILO categories O/1 and 1. I am, however, writing to my hon. Friend on this matter.
§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action has been taken by the Health and Safety Execu 596W tive in connection with the dangers to Underground workers arising from concentrations of asbestos dust of between 20 and 310 nanograms per cubic metre of air at Highgate London Transport Underground Station since the publication of the joint report of the Asbestosis Research Council, the TUC Centenary Institute, and London Transport in 1974; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John GrantThe current occupational hygiene standard for chrysotile asbestos dust is two fibres per millilitre. The concentrations of asbestos dust quoted by the hon. Member cannot be converted exactly into the units used in the standard, but the highest result is approximately 300 times lower than this standard. These results are consistent with the earlier measurements of asbestos dust concentrations in air taken by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate at other London Transport Executive underground stations. In view on these findings it was decided that no further action needed to be taken in respect of this report.