§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what studies have been conducted by his Department, or consultants to his Department, on improving the safety of storage of toxic or corrosive chemicals at large industrial sites; and what studies have been conducted on the design of bunds associated with chemical containment.
§ Mr. ForthIn addition to the high standards of legislative control which already exist for vessels storing hazardous chemicals, the Health and Safety Executive is encouraging an improvement in the mitigatory strategies adopted by occupiers to limit the consequences of vessel failure. The HSE is funding a research and development programme into the design and performance of bunds. A first study entitled "The Design of Bunds" was published in March and a further study is nearing completion.