§ Mr. Michieasked the Paymaster General (1) what action the Health and Safety Executive took following the February 1986 meeting of the Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances to obtain the necessary data for an Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances review of the present occupational exposure limit for methylene chloride;
(2) whether the Health and Safety Executive has obtained the necessary data for the Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances to carry out a full review of the present occupational exposure limit for methylene chloride;
(3) when the Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances review of the occupational exposure limit for methylene chloride will be completed.
§ Mr. TrippierAt the February 1986 meeting the Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS) asked the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to obtain the necessary data for a review of the occupational exposure limit (OEL) for methylene chloride. The HSE has obtained relevant data on its toxicity. These are data published since the initial review by ACTS in May 1985 when it recommended the present OEL. These new data are now being assessed and a report will be made to the next meeting of ACTS. It will be open to the committee to consider the OEL at that time.
In order to complete its full review ACTS also requires details and comprehensive information on the costs and practicability of control measures. The HSE has begun this assessment and plans to make it available to ACTS for its meeting next November.
582Wof training places available in each skillcentre in the Greater London area and the number of trainees undergoing courses in each skillcentre for each year from 1979 to 1986.
§ Mr. TrippierStatistics on skillcentre training volumes are kept in terms of training weeks provided rather than places available. Details for each skillcentre in the Greater London area, from 1984–85 to the latest available date are contained in the table. I regret that comparable figures are not available before that date.