§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many men were involved in electrical refitting of the following ships in Rosyth dockyard: (a) HMS "Lion" in 1965, (b) HMS "Barnard" in 1966 and (c) HMS "Zulu" in 196'7; and whether, in view of the extent of their exposure to asbestos, any steps have been taken to monitor their health records.
§ Mr. BlakerMinistry of Defence records confirm that HM Ships "Barnard" and "Zulu" were refitted in 1966 and 1967 respectively but show that HMS "Lion" was not refitted at Rosyth until 1968: HMS "Sealion" was refitted at that yard in 1965.
Records of individuals employed on specific refitting projects are retained for a period of two years after which time they are destroyed. It is not possible therefore to state the numbers of men engaged on those refits, nor to identify particular employees.
If an employee had a medical problem whilst employed on those ships his personal medical record would confirm the nature and duration of the illness. It is unlikely that any reference would have been made to asbestos exposure because the health risks, now known to be associated with asbestos, were not fully appreciated at that time.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence what current regulations are in force at Her Majesty's dockyards to protect dockyard workers from asbestos dust; and what steps are taken to ensure their enforcement.
§ Mr. BlakerManagement at all levels in the Royal dockyards is very conscious of the health hazards associated with asbestos. Great care is taken to ensure that all employees are afforded appropriate protection against 165W the known health risks associated with this material. All Government industrial establishments operate within the Asbestos Regulations 1969 and the latest guidance note EH10 issued by the Health and Safety Executive.
Precise details of the procedures to be followed when working with asbestos materials are published in a defence council instruction which sets out the code of safe working practice for all insulating materials. Local standing orders at each establishment also specify the precautions to be taken when working with asbestos, the procedures for isolating the asbestos removal process and the frequency at which environmental surveys should be carried out to check dust levels. Compliance with all these instructions is mandatory and dockyard managements are mindful of the overriding requirement to reduce exposure to asbestos dust at all times to the practicable minimum.
The EEC is currently considering directives on asbestos related work and the HSE is preparing new regulations for more stringent controls to be implemented on 1 January 1983. These new standards will be introduced in the Royal dockyards as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department keeps records on the number of Armed Forces personnel whose work involved exposure to asbestos and who later died of mesothelioma or related diseases; and if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers involved in each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. BlakerRecords are not kept of all Service men who have been exposed to asbestos. During the past 10 years there has been one death in service due to mesothelioma.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Defence when protective masks were introduced for members of the Armed Forces whose work involved exposure to asbestos dust.
§ Mr. BlakerProtective masks have been used by my Department since at least 1960. Their use has become more widespread with the increasing awareness of the dangers of asbestos.