HC Deb 21 June 1996 vol 279 cc650-1W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the advantages of banning the use of asbestos in vehicle brakes and clutches; and if he will make a statement. [33631]

Mr. Norris

In 1994, a survey of companies producing asbestos products found that 4,5000 tonnes of chrysotile asbestos was used in friction materials, such as brakes and clutches, mainly for heavy goods vehicles. There is good evidence that, under conditions of use in brakes and clutches, chrysotile asbestos breaks down to less harmful products.

The Health and Safety Executive participated in a 1988 study by the International Programme on Chemical Safety—which comes under the auspices of the UN Environment Programme, the International Labour Organisation and the World Health Organisation—which found the following:

  1. (a) production workers who make the brakes and clutches, have since the 1940s had generally low exposure and low risk compared to other asbestos workers;
  2. (b) mechanics who maintain/replace brake linings have low exposure and risk, particularly if HSE's advice is followed;
  3. (c) ambient exposure levels in areas where increased braking of vehicles occur, generally show either no increase, or only a very small increase, in the background level of asbestos fibres in the air. Any risk from environmental brake emission is therefore very small.

Nevertheless agreement has been reached within the United Nationals Economic Commission for Europe to prohibit the use of asbestos in the brake linings of vehicles first used on or after 1 October 1998. Discussions to align EU braking requirements with those of the UNECE are schedule for later this year.