HC Deb 24 July 1984 vol 64 cc619-21W
Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what surveys have been undertaken by his Department to estimate the number of houses in the United Kingdom likely to have asbestos injurious to health used in their construction.

Sir George Young

The Department is collating information collected in local authority surveys; it has not undertaken separate surveys of its own.

Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider making the removal of asbestos from homes subject to grant aid under the improvement grant regulations.

Sir George Young

As I said in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 12 April 1984 at column 324, there are no plans to extend eligibility for home improvement grants to asbestos replacement.

Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will draw the public's attention to the dangers of asbestos in the home and the need to replace any damaged or cracked asbestos panels with other material.

Sir George Young

The free leaflet "Asbestos in housing", published by my Department last year, gives advice on the safe use of asbestos materials. It recommends that asbestos material which is damaged or giving off dust should be removed.

Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice has been given to local authorities about the dangers of asbestos in the home.

Sir George Young

A guidance note on asbestos materials in buildings was published by the Department of the Environment in August 1983 and copies were sent to all local authorities in England and Wales.

Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to action on the removal of asbestos from houses being taken by (a) other European Economic Community countries and (b) the United States of America.

Sir George Young

European Community countries have adopted a variety of policies on removal of asbestos from houses.

United States Government guidance on asbestos in the home says, Do not disturb any material you think may contain asbestos unless you have to. Removal of the material is usually the last alternative".

Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the removal of asbestos from housing.

Sir George Young

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) on 12 April 1984 at column 323.

Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set a safety standard for the percentage white asbestos fibre content of asbestos cement sheet.

Sir George Young

No. I am advised that the risks associated with asbestos cement are already very low and that setting a standard of this kind would not necessarily reduce them further.