§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that products which contain asbestos are individually and permanently marked as such. [7900]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe requirements regarding the labelling of products containing asbestos are laid down in the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1985 as amended in 1992 and the Asbestos Products (Safety) Regulations 1985 as amended in 1987. There are no plans to introduce any further labelling measures at present.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures the Government have taken to encourage the use of substitutes for asbestos-containing products. [7898]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordExisting legal measures encourage the use of substitutes for products containing asbestos. These range from widespread prohibitions on the supply of products containing asbestos to those which govern the use of asbestos at work. The Health and Safety Executive and local authorities continue to enforce these regulations, and in particular regulation 8 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 which requires every employer to prevent exposure to asbestos by substitution with safer materials where reasonably practicable.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics he has collated on levels of asbestos use in London since 1986. [7902]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordNo statistics on the levels of asbestos use in London since 1986 have been collated by the Department of the Environment.