HC Deb 14 May 1980 vol 984 cc485-6W
Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has now completed the process of consultation on the final report of the Advisory Committee on Asbestos and when he expects to make regulations to implement the recommendation of the report.

Mr. Mayhew

[pursuant to his reply, 13 May 1980]: Since my answer to the hon. Member on 20 March—[Vol. 981, c. 265]—further comments on the advisory committee's final report have been received by the Health and Safety Executive, and I understand that the outstanding observations are expected to arrive before the end of May. When all the submissions have been collated the Government will decide as soon as possible on their response to the report's recommendations.

table shows for each group on which the commission has so far reported, the number in the group, the commission's estimate of the percentage increase in earnings resulting from its award, the implementation dates of the award—all the awards were to be implemented in two equal stages—and the commission's estimate of the annual cost of the award when all stages are in payment. The table excludes the award for university technicians, which was of an interim nature, and the award for municipal airport manual workers, the cost of which will depend on a grading exercise still to be undertaken. The commission's awards were all entirely based on comparability.