HC Deb 27 July 1982 vol 28 c512W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the safe removal of asbestos from all public buildings.

Sir George Young

The Department of the Environment does not have records of installations of asbestos—containing materials in all public buildings. The cost of making a complete survey is unknown, but would be high, and would not be justified in view of the very low levels of asbestos in air in buildings encountered in recent investigations.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to seek to ban the use of asbestos.

Mr. Giles Shaw

No.