§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if, following a successful prosecution for an infringement of the asbestos handling regulations, he will make it his policy automatically to withdraw the offender's licence;
(2) in what circumstances a licence will be withdrawn from a licensed asbestos contractor.
§ Mr. GummerRegulation 4(4) of the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations allows the Health and Safety Executive to revoke a licence where the licensee has contravened any condition or restriction attached to a licence or has been convicted of an offence relating to work with asbestos insulation or asbestos coating under the relevant health and safety legislation. Although each case would be considered on its merits and revocation would not be inevitable, no licensee who had consistently failed410W to achieve acceptable standards would keep his licence following conviction for an offence involving his work with asbestos.
§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give an estimate of the frequency of inspections of licensed asbestos contractors by the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mr. GummerThe factory inspectorate within the Health and Safety Executive will be responsible for most inspections of licensed contractors and their inspection of work activities is based on a system of priorities which takes account of factors such as the conditions found at previous visits, the risk to employees and the general public, the track record of the firm and the inspector's professional judgment of the organisation.
After the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations come into operation on 1 August 1984, inspection of licensed asbestos contractors will be on a similar basis.