§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Paymaster General if he will introduce legislation to require the Health and Safety Executive to bring prosecutions in respect of any unlicensed operations involving the removal of asbestos in which a danger to health is alleged to have been caused by unsafe working practices, unauthorised dumping or pollution of the atmosphere; if he will seek powers to increase the penalties for such breaches of health and safety regulations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierNo. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 already provides a range of effective enforcement options for dealing appropriately with each offence. Prosecutions are normally taken in respect of unlicensed operations if adequate evidence is available. The level of penalties is kept under review.
§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Paymaster General (1) if he will introduce legislation providing stricter controls for all work involving all types of asbestos products; and if he will make a statement;
421W(2) what controls have been introduced on the manufacture, sale and resale, and use in the United Kingdom of all asbestos products; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1985 prohibit the manufacture, use and supply, including sale and resale of products containing crocidolite and amosite asbestos in the workplace. Similarly the sale and resale of such products not intended for use at work is prohibited by the Asbestos Products (Safety) Regulation 1985. Other types of asbestos are not prohibited but are subject to strict legislative controls including the tightest control limits in Europe.
I await proposals from the Health and Safety Commission on new regulations designed to place comprehensive controls on all work with asbestos. I hope regulations can be made in time to come into operation at the beginning of 1987.
§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Paymaster General what controls have been placed on the import and export of asbestos materials of all kinds.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1985 prohibit the importation of raw and waste crocidolite and amosite asbestos. The wider prohibition on supply contained in these regulations and in the Asbestos Products (Safety) Regulations 1985 has the effect of prohibiting the import and export of products containing crocidolite and amosite.
The Asbestos Products (Safety) Regulations 1985 require that products containing other types of asbestos must carry warning labels.